Leaked Islamic State documents reveal the group has a cosy relationship with the Assad regime. But that's not the only surprise.

The Isis affiliate in Egypt prompts Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to form an unlikely alliance against the terrorist group.

COMMENT: The internet has provided a skewed image of the world dominated by hero-worship and celebrity culture.

Terror group facing cash crunch like never before, say reports.

US President Barack Obama has urged world leaders to do more to safeguard vulnerable nuclear facilities to prevent "madmen" from groups like Isis.

Syrian antiquities experts expressed shock at the destruction the Islamic State group wrought inside Palmyra's museum, where scores of artifacts were smashed before troops drove the extremists out of the historic town.

A top European security official warned yesterday that the threat of Isis (Islamic State) attacks is greater than previous assessments.

COMMENT: West will never thwart each and every attack, but the power to undermine propaganda is in our hands.

Brothers Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui had secretly filmed the daily routine of Belgium's nuclear programme chief, before they blew themselves up at Brussels airport and on a Metro train.

COMMENT: The tenets of Muslim belief are not compatible with a secular society, writes Alan Duff.

Some airports, such as the one in Beirut, require security screening before passengers can even go to check-in desks, writes Steve Hewitt. Is that a feasible solution for major airports?

Source: AFP

Conspiracy theorists say jihadi bride claims deliberately created a climate to ease the way for our spy agencies to be given more power, which they now do look likely to get, writes Barry Soper.

COMMENT: Key and Kitteridge owe us all, and NZ Muslim women especially, an apology.

COMMENT: The announcement makes it explicit that Putin has no interest in giving Assad the support he'd need to take on the forces of Isis.

Isis militants killed dozens of people in two major attacks on Baghdad yesterday, bombing a market and assaulting security forces on the city's outskirts.

The jihadist group Islamic State has shocked the world with its brutality, writes James Gelvin. Its sudden prominence has led to much speculation about the group's origins.

The Islamic State's recruitment of foreign fighters has slowed significantly, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says, as the US-led coalition increasingly cuts off sources of funding to the extremist group.

Black flag now flies over Gaddafi's former home city Sirte as Islamists exploit rebel disunity.

There is a danger that this conflict will draw us ever deeper into a quagmire, writes Gehan Gunasekar. There is a danger of escalation should the current proxy conflict spill into conflict between the great powers involved themselves.

It will raise NZ's target profile amongst Islamists and could invite attack at home. But it is a necessary, justifiable and ultimately right thing to do, writes Paul Buchanan.

Authorities try to identify Isis executioner after release of clip of spies being killed.

Coalition air strikes have killed 10 Isis commanders, with some linked to last month's attacks in Paris.

Iraqi forces broke into Ramadi's city centre, closer to its main government buildings as commanders hope to recapture the capital from Isis militants.

Here's a look at what the CIA's predictions in 2000 got right and wrong about the world of today.

Statistics show Americans have a far greater chance of being shot dead in shootings perpetrated by their fellow Christian Americans than in terrorist attacks by Muslims, writes Paul Thomas.

The number of foreign fighters who have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join militant groups such as Isis has more than doubled according to a study.