The International Organization for Migration is urgently appealing for $2.5 million to help up to 700 stranded migrants return home in the next two years. IOM says the migrants are destitute and living in miserable conditions.

Iraq demands the withdrawal of Iranian troops it says have crossed into Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well.

Lebanese PM Saad Hariri is to hold talks in Damascus for the first time since his anti-Syrian coalition came to power in 2005.