Sectarian massacres continue in Syria and Iraq
Insurgents fired nearly 400 rockets at the two Shi'ite (presumably Alawite) villages of al-Foua and Kefraya in northwestern Syria's Idlib governorate Sept. 18, and detonated at least seven car bombs, opening a new assault on besieged government-held areas. The attacks were carried out by the "Army of Conquest," a coalition that includes the Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham. (Reuters) Meanwhile, ISIS claimed responsibility for two suicide bombs in Baghdad that killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 60. The attacks targeted police checkpoints in the Wathba and Haraj markets during morning rush-hour—both in mostly Shi'ite areas. Another bomber (not yet claimed by ISIS) struck in the city's Bab al-Sharji area, killing eight civilians and a police officer. (BBC News)
Syria ceasefire was a bust —surprise
The above Reuters report notes that the two-day ceasefire announced last month in the villages of al-Foua and Kefraya broke down before before the wounded could be evacuated from either area. The third town named in the abortive ceasefire, rebel-held Zabadani, is now under a closing ring by government forces.