Arabic architecture

After vowing to give a merciless response to the attacks at multiple venues in Paris, France carried out air raids in Raqqa, Syria. 10 fighter jets dropped 20 bombs targeting Islamic State command and control centers, ammunition depots and a training camp.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Oct. 6 he wanted to avoid a violent escalation with Israel as Israeli police lifted restrictions on worship at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in an apparent bid to ease tensions after three weeks of violence.

Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound for a third straight day on Sept. 15, an AFP correspondent reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has condemned Israeli forces? targeting of Muslim groups inside Jerusalem?s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, pledging to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Ankara will continue to strive to boost international awareness of the plight of the Palestinians, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Muslims and Israeli police clashed at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound for a second straight day on Sept. 14, prompting at least three arrests, police said.

"As the police entered the compound masked youths fled inside the mosque and threw stones at the force," a police statement said.    

Turkey?s top cleric has condemned Israel for what he called as ?occupation? of Jerusalem?s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, which was a scene to brief clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters, raising tensions in the holy city ahead of the Jewish New Year.

Seljuk and Ottoman era structures are being deliberately destroyed in Syria, according to a professor who previously worked on these artifacts.

An unusual mosque has been built on top of a 1,130-meter mountain in a Black Sea province in Turkey where President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s father was born.

The construction of a controversial prayer room inside Istanbul?s Rumeli Fortress has been completed amid a long-running dispute between Turkish architects and art historians.

The Bo?azkesen Fetih prayer room is scheduled to open to worshippers in August after a construction process which cost about 1.5 million Turkish Liras.

Israeli police entered one of Islam's holiest places -- annexed east Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque --- on Sunday to tackle suspected Palestinian rioters, police said.  

The compound, which is also revered by Jews, is one of the biggest flashpoints in the Middle East. Israel routinely imposes age restrictions on Muslim worshippers.