Headlines this morning are dominated by the latest developments in the US-led effort to combat ISIS. The Guardian and Telegraph focus on comments made yesterday by US President Barack Obama, who ruled out a combat mission for US ground troops against ISIS after the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated that such a scenario could take place. The Financial Times says that Iraq’s Prime Minister appeared in accord with Obama, saying that there would be no foreign ground troops in Iraq and that Iraq’s army is sufficiently well prepared to take up the fight against ISIS.

Meanwhile, the Times covers an assessment by the UK-Based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which suggests that around 6,000 new recruits have joined ISIS since the United States began launching air strikes against its positions. The online editions of the Independent and Financial Times both report that Al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa and Yemen have defied the official position of Al-Qaeda and issued a rallying call to unite with ISIS against the United States.

The Telegraph online reports that Syrian Air Force strikes during a recent two-day period have killed at least 50 people including women and children. In total, it is estimated that more than 190,000 people have been killed in the Syrian Civil War since 2011.

The Telegraph online also reports that a 5,000 year-old structure in northern Israel has been identified by an archaeologist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as an ancient monument to a Mesopotamian sun god, pre-dating construction at both Stonehenge and the Pyramids in Giza.

The Israeli media is dominated by the surprise announcement last night by Interior Minister Gideon Saar that he is taking a break from politics and will consequently leave his role in government and the Knesset following the upcoming Jewish holidays. It is the top story in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon which describes Saar’s resignation as an “earthquake in the Likud.” Saar is considered a potential challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of the party and his resignation is widely viewed as a blow to the coalition.

Although Saar said that he is taking time out to focus on his home life, there is plenty of speculation of ulterior motives. Writing in Maariv, Ben Caspit says that disillusionment with Netanyahu is the real reason behind Saar’s decision, commenting “there is no doubt: if it weren’t for Bibi [Netanyahu], Saar would have stayed. He’s become fed up. He can’t take it anymore.” Meanwhile, Nahum Barnea in Yediot Ahronot also contends that there is more to Saar’s decision than meets the eye. In an article titled “He’ll be back,” Barnea notes the public forum for Saar’s announcement at a Likud gathering yesterday and says, “Why did he feel impelled to confess his love in public, before a political audience and in front of the cameras? Grooms on their wedding day do that.”

In other news, Israel Radio news reports that former-Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov was detained by police investigating allegations following a year-long undercover investigation, that he rigged ministry tenders during his time in office. Meseznikov represented Yisrael Beitenu in the Knesset as was appointed as a minister in 2009 before leaving politics in 2012.