Hundreds of ISIS militants killed as a Russian air strike hit a convoy near the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zour. Russia’s defence ministry said at least 200 jihadists had died after its air force targeted a convoy of about 20 4x4s, armoured vehicles and tanks. It did not say when the strike took place, but a monitoring group reported that a convoy was hit last Friday.
Over in Iraq, security forces say they have taken a number of villages on the outskirts of Tal Afar as part of a major offensive that began on Sunday. It comes as the UN warns thousands fleeing the northern city are at risk, trekking for hours in extreme heat. Separately, Iraqi forces are being urged to rescue people from the Yazidi community who the militants may be holding as slaves.
Lastly, a Kurdish athlete from the Kurdistan Region successfully broke two Guinness World Records on Sunday in Dubai. Jarjees Rashed, 31, who is from the Dohuk Province broke the world record for most knuckle pushups with one leg raised while carrying a 40-pound pack in one minute and also successfully broke the record for the most fingertips pushups while carrying a 40-pound pack in one minute.
