Latest from Syria

'Jihadi John' body double?

The British Isis killer known as "Jihadi John" may have a body double, according to a new video analysis.

Hostage: Beheading death likely

British journalist and Islamic State (Isis) group hostage John Cantlie says in a newly released propaganda video he is likely to suffer the same fate as other US and UK hostages, who were beheaded.

Latest Isis video marks a change of tack

Much has changed in Iraq and Syria in the six weeks since the last Western hostage, Alan Henning, was beheaded.

'Jihadi John' wounded in airstrike

UK has received reports that notorious terrorist accused of killing two British hostages has been injured in an airstrike.

Syria's 'hero boy' video a fake

Footage of boy braving sniper fire to rescue girl was shot with actors on Gladiator set in Malta to raise plight of children in warzones.

Kurdish boys tell of Isis brainwashing

By the time the boys were returned to their parents, their jihadist kidnappers had achieved their goal: loyalty to the Islamic State (Isis).

Paper: Isis offered to pay teen $32,000

A 14-year-old boy suspected of planning a series of bombings in Vienna was reported yesterday to have been offered US$25,000 by Isis to carry out the attacks and claims that two other youths recruited in the same way remain at large.

Second brother dies fighting in Syria

The second of three brothers who travelled to Syria to join forces seeking the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad has been killed in fighting, his father has confirmed.

Editorial: Parliament should decide whether we go to war

If New Zealand decides to send forces to support an international response to the "Islamic State" in Iraq and Syria (Isis), the decision will be made by the Government not Parliament, the Prime Minister has explained.

PM: NZ won't be a target

Any commitment of military assistance to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq should not make NZ more of a target for terrorism, Prime Minister John Key says.

US air strikes fail to stop Isis advancing

Isis is close to capturing the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane, just a short distance from the Turkish border, after a three-week siege in which US air strikes turned out to be ineffective in preventing the militants from winning an important victory.

Brian Rudman: If Key wants to send troops, here's a better war

The argument that if we don't join the American crusade to wipe out Muslim fanatics in Iraq and Syria, they'll swoop down to Godzone and behead us all is a rerun of the old Vietnam War domino theory....

Isis fight is Govt's decision

PM says any plan to give assistance to efforts against militants will probably be debated in Parliament but the ultimate decision is the Government's alone.

McCully states case for NZ UN seat

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, in a bid to secure New Zealand a place on the United Nations Security Council.

Key: SAS could join Isis fight on ground

NZ's elite SAS personnel aren't yet on standby for deployment to combat Islamic State militants - but the PM can't rule out sending them in if asked.

Al-Qaida damns 'Crusader alliance'

The leader of al-Qaida's Syria affiliate has vowed that his group would "use all possible means" to fight back against airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition.