Alison Meuse

The Trump administration says it believes the Assad regime in Syria could be preparing to wage another chemical weapons attack. There's been no official reaction from the Assad government.

Iraq's military said ISIS destroyed the 12th century al-Nuri mosque in Mosul's Old City, where ISIS fighters remain. Allied forces are trying to recapture the last of the city.

It's the first time the coalition has admitted using the incendiary substance in the push to retake Mosul from the Islamic State. A general says it's used "to get civilians out safely."

ISIS claimed responsibility for attacks in Tehran, one on Iran's parliament, the other on a shrine to Ayatollah Khomeni. Attacks are very unusual in Iran, which is a relatively peaceful place.

"Our feelings today are mixed between happiness and sadness," a Syrian woman tells NPR. "We're tired inside. We're tired of planes. We want to live a normal life."

The U.S. considers deploying hundreds more American troops to Syria in the final phase of the war against ISIS — one that could reshape borders and relationships in the Middle East.

Over the past week, normally secure areas of Damascus, Syria have been hit by deadly explosions. It could signal a push by a powerful jihadist coalition to shape the direction of the conflict.

Activists say more than 300,000 people have been detained over the course of Syria's civil war. A Syrian lawyer is trying to get the plight of detainees on the agenda at peace talks.

In some areas of Syria, local truces have averted deadly military takeovers. But in a suburb north of Damascus, rebel fighters say their departure resulted more from coercion than negotiation.

Civilians in the rebel-held side of the city are fleeing for their lives, dodging crossfire along the front line to reach the regime-held part of the city. "It was all so sudden," one woman tells NPR.