Iraq
Days after seizing an air base south of the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, Iranian backed Shia militia are moving to encircle the city in an attempt to finish off the job.
If successful, the offensive would choke off a main supply route to Mosul, ISIL’s last major stronghold in Iraq.
Tal Afar remains a strategically vital link in the chain of the group’s self-declared caliphate.
Cutting off the western road to the city would seal off Mosul, which is already surrounded to the north, south and east by Iraqi government and Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
But the offensive on Tal Afar, which lies close to the Turkish Syrian border, could draw in Turkey, which fears Iranian backed groups taking over the town.
Elsewhere in the north of Iraq, there were desperate scenes in parts of Mosul, newly liberated from ISIL control, as locals scrambled for food sent by the Iraqi government.
The lack of organisation and resultant chaos is thought to have left many residents without provisions.
00:39
At least 13 villagers killed in Mali in suspected jihadist attack
Go to video
South Sudan's president urges refugees to return home
Go to video
UN Alarms: Islamic State Extremist threat still looms high, authorities urged to stay vigilant
Go to video
In Tigray, tears and grief with the return of telecommunications
01:30
Benin's opposition parties will be on the ballot in Sunday's election
01:32
The Flying stars: Sierra Leone’s amputee national football team