The Wall Street Journal broke the news earlier, citing sources that the US Department of Defence (DoD) was considering to authorize the deployment of additional 14,000 troops to the Middle East along with various military hardware to deter alleged Iranian threat in the region - the news which was later denied by DoD spokesperson.

Two mortars reportedly landed inside the Balad Air Base in Iraq late Thursday, reports have revealed. There are no indications of casualties or damages presently.

The Pentagon has repeatedly refuted accusations that US forces were involved in transporting Daesh* militants from Syria to safe havens.

Last month, commander of Iran's Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi called on regional states to oppose the presence of foreign military forces in the Persian Gulf, arguing that they won't do any good for them.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israeli State Prosecutor's Office on Thursday published charges in the large-scale corruption scheme, known as Case 3000, that involved bribes to Israeli officials for soliciting multi-million-dollar state contracts on nuclear submarines with German company Thyssenkrupp, media reported on Thursday.

In June, American heavyweight Andy Ruiz shocked the boxing world when he defeated Britain’s Anthony Joshua in New York to take the WBA, IBF and WBO world titles. Saudi Arabia has put up the money to host the eagerly-awaited rematch on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran is not seeking to abandon the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Pentagon may further reduce the number of US troops in Syria if European allies contribute to the mission there, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in an interview with Reuters that was published Thursday.

Tehran has allegedly taken advantage of the ongoing unrest in the neighboring nation to stockpile its secret arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles, US intelligence and military officials claim.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is charged in three high-profile criminal cases related to bribery, fraud, corruption and misuse of power. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing and has threatened to stay in power even if sentenced after having been found guilty.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NATO should respond to Ankara's purchasing of Russian-made S-400 air defence systems and manage to position US anti-missile systems in Turkey, German Member of Parliament Nils Schmid said.

Anonymous US officials reported the seizure of a “significant cache” of missile parts by a US destroyer in the Gulf of Oman last week, with the weapons reportedly being linked to Iran and suspected of being smuggled to the Houthis in Yemen. The report comes amid backroom peace talks to end the war in Yemen.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A total of 10 civilians, including eight children, were killed and 13 were wounded in a mortar attack by militants in the city of Tall Rifat, in northern Aleppo province on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Yuri Borenkov, the head of the Russian Centre for Syrian reconciliation, said.

Two East Jerusalem men were accused in an Israeli court on Sunday of plotting a terrorist attack on behalf of Daesh during Israeli Independence Day celebrations.

Last week, Iranian General Allahnoor Noorollahi announced that Tehran is ready for “the greatest war against the greatest enemy”, adding that the Islamic Republic’s missile systems are aimed at 21 American military bases in the Middle East.

Earlier, the French president said that NATO members do not have the same "definition of terrorism", adding that France has paid with its "soldiers' lives".

The Iranian consulate building in Najaf was set on fire several times last month amid protests that rocked the south of Iraq.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) - The commander was detained in the northern Kirkuk province near the Hawija settlement. He was apprehended with a fake passport.

Despite having a stable income, a good job and a comfortable life, Mohammed Hassan chose to leave Gaza, unable to cope with the never-ending military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, and unwilling to put up with the constant dread for his family.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mohamed al-Halbousi, appealed on Wednesday to President Barham Salih to nominate a new prime minister within 15 days.