In a new video released by the militant group Islamic State, American journalist Steven Sotloff appears to be killed by extremists associated with the group.
More than 500 people may have traveled from the U.K. to Syria to fight in its civil war. Arun Rath talks to Jessica Stern, author of Terror In The Name Of God, about how it's drawing Westerners.
Diane Foley tells NPR that her son, slain journalist James Foley, "could have done so many other things. But he, I think, was drawn to some of the drama, some of the rawness of the conflict zones."
David Greene talks to David Kirkpatrick, a correspondent for The New York Times, which reported that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates collaborated on airstrikes against Islamists in Tripoli.
New England native Peter Theo Curtis was freed Sunday, after being held by Islamic militants in Syria since October 2012. Another American journalist, James Foley, was killed in Syria last week.
Peter Theo Curtis was released by Jabhat al-Nusra, known as the Nusra Front. Last week, American journalist James Foley was beheaded in Syria by the group which now calls itself the Islamic State.
Egypt has historically played a primary role as mediator in Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. But now, that role is in doubt. Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Leila Fadel about Egypt's shifting role.
American photojournalist James Foley was killed this past week by militants from the Islamic State. Tess Vigeland speaks with Robert Mahoney, deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, about the targeting of journalists in Syria.
Foley was held hostage in Syria for nearly two years before he was killed by his captors. GlobalPost co-founder Phil Balboni tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the efforts to win his release.