Sputnik | A senior commander of Iran’s Armed Forces accused the United States of creating the Islamic State as part of a strategic goal to redraw the map of the Middle East.

Zero Hedge | … at least China was mercifully allowed to stay out of the fray between the Cold War enemies.

RT | Finland, Norway and Sweden are readying for one of Europe’s largest fighter jet drills this year.

BBC News | The Iraqi city of Ramadi could be taken back from Islamic State (IS) militants “in days”, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has told the BBC.

RT | A leading Sunni Muslim body is appealing one last time for people to unite “in a battle of humanity”.

Protesters demanding officials stop the controversial relocation of the US military’s Futenma base to Henoko, on Okinawa.