Wars & Rumors of War

My Way News - Islamic State says airstrike killed US hostage, US skeptical
My Way News reports: "Islamic State extremists claimed that an American woman held hostage by the group was killed Friday in a Jordanian airstrike in northern Syria, but the government of Jordan dismissed the statement as 'criminal propaganda' and the U.S. said it had not seen any evidence to corroborate the report."

My Way News - Putin, Ukraine leader to hold 4-way phone call on peace plan
My Way News reports: "Talks among the leaders of Russia, France and Germany on a peace initiative for Ukraine ended early Saturday with an announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart would discuss a proposal to end the fighting in a four-way telephone call this weekend. [...] The resurgent fighting has fueled fears the conflict is threatening Europe's overall security and has prompted the U.S. to consider giving lethal weapons to Ukraine, an option opposed by European nations."

My Way News - Jordan's king thrusts country to center of Islamic State war
My Way News reports: "King Abdullah II has thrust Jordan to the center of the war against the Islamic State group with his pledge of relentless retaliation for the killing of one of his pilots. [...] The military carried out airstrikes on Islamic State weapons depots and training sites on Thursday and Friday."

Reuters - Iran is using Israel to distract from its real aims in the Persian Gulf
Reuters reports: "This Iranian threat is as real and serious to the Arab Gulf states — and to the flow of petroleum exports to the global economy — as its nuclear threat. It is the reason why Saudi Arabia and the other Arab Gulf states — as well as the United States, Britain, and France — have built up their naval, air, mine warfare, and missile forces in the Gulf."