Iraq Militants Claim Soldier Massacre

This image posted on a militant website appears to show militants from the Islamist State of Iraq and al-Sham leading away men in plain clothes. The Sunni militant group has posted photos that appear to show its fighters shooting dead dozens of captured men. (Associated Press)

Photos of Alleged Killings Posted Online as U.S., Iran Near Talks on Cooperation to Counter Insurgents

By Jay Solomon, Carol E. Lee and Ali A. Nabhan, WSJ
Updated June 15, 2014 8:23 p.m. ET

The radical Sunni militia that has plunged Iraq into chaos bragged on Sunday that it had executed hundreds of Shiite Iraqi soldiers, even as the Obama administration said it is preparing to open direct talks with Iran on how the two longtime foes can counter the insurgents.

The U.S.-Iran dialogue, which is expected to begin this week, will mark the latest in a rapid move toward rapprochement between Washington and Tehran over the past year. It also comes as the U.S. and other world powers try to reach an agreement with Iran by late July to curb its nuclear program.

The U.S. and Iran have publicly committed in recent days to provide military support if requested to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and help his government repel an offensive the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, has launched against Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities over the past week.

(More here.)