Free Republic

US midwestern states shaken by influence of Islamic State Dearth of de-radicalisation programmes despite despite 'rehab for terrorists' successes A fighter with the Syrian Democratic Forces takes aim with his Kalashnikov after seeing a man walking towards his position in Baghouz, in eastern Syria. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images Islamic State may be on the brink of defeat in Syria, but its ideology remains a potent recruitment tool. In the American midwest, a region that has proved fertile ground for the terror group and other extremist recruiters, communities and law enforcement officials face a new challenge: dealing with returning jihadists and...

Iranian authorities have arrested a group of people linked to Israel who are suspected of planning bombings ahead of the Islamic republic's presidential election on June 12, Reuters cited the country's intelligence minister as saying on Sunday. "A group of deceived elements... who wanted to carry out explosions, particularly before the June election, was arrested," Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei was quoted as telling Iranian radio. State radio did not say how many people had been arrested or give any other details. Iran often accuses Israel and the United States of seeking to undermine the Islamic republic. Last year, an Iranian...

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) said the proposed sale of surface-to-air missiles to Syria was still under discussion despite US and Israeli opposition, in an interview. Putin told the English language Jerusalem Post that Russia would never upset the Middle East's regional balance but said any sale of the controversial anti-aircraft missiles could be allowed for "defensive purposes." "While we're talking about supplies of weapons to countries in the region, such a supply should be understood in the light of supporting defensive capacities, as in Syria," he said. Israel and the United States have...