The shortcomings of the Iraqi military, which withered under a June militant onslaught and relies on Shiite militias for support, pose a significant challenge to international efforts against brutal jihadists.

Rebels including al-Qaida loyalists have seized most of the Syrian side of the armistice line with Israel on the Golan Heights, a monitoring group said on Saturday.

Al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front and its allies launched a major offensive against government forces in Quneitra province last month, capturing the sole crossing point over the armistice line to the Israeli-occupied sector of the strategic plateau.

U.N. envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura met on Saturday with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, focusing on the latest developments in Lebanon and the extensive burden the country is suffering due to the crisis in neighboring countries, in particular Syria.

“It is normal to begin my regional tour from Lebanon to discuss the latest developments,” De Mistura told reporters from the Grand Serail.

Armed men kidnapped on Saturday Lebanese national Ahmed al-Hujeiri and dragged him to the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Hujeiri, who is also known as Ahmed Hadiya, hails from the Bekaa town.

With momentum building for international military action against Islamist extremists in Syria, the United States reiterated Friday it will not coordinate with strongman Bashar Assad in the effort.

The United States on Friday denied threatening the family of executed reporter James Foley with prosecution had they raised a ransom for his release, insisting the government did everything possible to bring him home.

The White House declared Friday the United States was at war with Islamic State radicals, seeking to rub out another semantic flap over its Syria policy.

A 20-year-old German alleged jihadist goes on trial Monday on charges of fighting for Islamic State in Syria, in Germany's first court proceedings involving the militant group.

Tekoshin stands on a mountain in north Iraq with a rifle slung over her shoulder and a grenade tucked into her belt,  facing jihadists in "a struggle to liberate women".

Back to school for children in the rebel-held part of Syria's northern city of Aleppo can mean having to cower in classes underground, sheltering from relentless regime air raids.