Islamic State seizes vast Damascus refugee camp

Syria:    Fighters proclaiming allegiance to Islamic State seized most of a vast camp for Palestinian refugees on the outskirts of Damascus on Wednesday, a bid to capture the group's first major foothold close to President Bashar al-Assad's seat of power.

Islamic State fighters already control swathes of eastern Syria and northern Iraq and are facing an international campaign of air strikes led by the United States. Until now they did not have a major presence in the area around the capital, where insurgents have mainly been loyal to other groups.