The United States expects Islamic State to use crude chemical weapons as it tries to repel an Iraqi-led offensive on the city of Mosul, although adding that the group's technical ability to develop such weapons is highly limited.

Syrian rebels said on October 18 they rejected any withdrawal of fighters from Aleppo after Russia announced a halt in air raids which it said was designed to allow insurgents to leave and to separate moderate fighters from extremist militants.

Yemen's Houthi-run administration welcomed a 72-hour ceasefire starting on October 19 intended to allow aid to reach areas cut off by months of fighting and in dire humanitarian need.

Violence in a Muslim-majority region of Myanmar is stopping aid agencies from delivering food and medicines, a United Nations official said on October 18, as security forces respond to deadly raids that the government says were inspired by Islamists.

Russian and Syrian armed forces will pause attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo for eight hours on October 20 to allow civilians and rebels to leave the city, the Russian Defence Ministry said on October 17.

Iraqi government forces launched a U.S.-backed offensive on October 17 to drive Islamic State from the northern city of Mosul, a high-stakes battle to retake the militants' last major stronghold in the country.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on October 17 announced the start of an offensive to retake Mosul, the capital of Islamic State's so-called caliphate in Iraq.

The United States and Britain called on October 16 for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Yemen to end violence between Iran-backed Houthis and the government, which is supported by Gulf states.

A bridge connecting two small islands near the Indonesian resort island of Bali collapsed on October 16, killing nine people and injuring at least 30, officials said.

Heavy fighting around the town of Malakal in South Sudan killed dozens of people over the weekend, a military spokesman said on October 16, after rebels said they would try to seize control of the town.