In news from Syria, rebels appear to have captured the northeastern city of Raqqa, ousting the forces of President Bashar al-Assad. Raqqa is the first provincial capital seized by Syria’s rebels in their fight against Assad. Meanwhile in neighboring Iraq, at least 40 Syrian soldiers and government workers were killed on Monday in an ambush by armed attackers. The victims were in the process of returning home to Syria after fleeing a rebel attack last week.