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WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, airstrikes have been launched in Syria against the group Islamic State. The Pentagon says the U.S. and five Arab countries -- Bahrain, Qatar (GUH'-tur), Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are involved. Some of the airstrikes have been on targets in Raqqa (RAH'-kah), the western Syrian city where Sunni militants have established the headquarters of their self-proclaimed Islamic state. The strikes on Syria were authorized nearly two weeks ago by President Barack Obama.
SURUC, Turkey (AP) — Fierce fighting between Islamic State militants and Kurdish forces in Syria have forced some 130,000 Syrian refugees into Turkey in just the last few days. That's raising pressure for the Turkish government to step up efforts to take on Sunni extremists. Turkey has been resisting because it fears that arming Kurds to fight militants could complicate peace talks with Turkish insurgents within its own borders.
WASHINGTON (AP) — There's increased security around the White House following Friday's incident in which a former soldier carrying a knife allegedly scaled the White House fence and got through the front door. A federal prosecutor said in court Monday that 42-year-old Omar Gonzalez of Texas had more than 800 rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets in his car. The prosecutor also said that when Gonzalez was arrested earlier this summer in Virginia, he had a carful of weapons, and a map with the White House circled.
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Health officials in West Texas are testing babies for tuberculosis after the revelation that more than 700 infants at an El Paso hospital were exposed to a health care worker who tested positive for TB. The children may have been exposed at a nursery in the Providence Memorial Hospital of El Paso between September 2013 and last month. El Paso's Department of Public Health says the worker had symptoms as early as December, but wasn't tested until August.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti (bih-SHAH'-tee) is refuting suggestions that he and other team officials tried to talk the NFL into being lenient on Ray Rice after the running back was arrested in February for knocking out his then-fiance. Bisciotti says, "I don't think the league would take too kindly to us badgering them." Rice initially was suspended for two games, but was released by the team after video surfaced on Sept. 8 that showed the actual punch.
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