The division of Islam into Sunni and Shiite branches goes far back in Muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Its repercussions have rippled through history, with ...

RFE/RL looks at the similarities and differences between the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam. Last week's deadly bombings in Karbala and Baghdad on the Shi'a holy day of Ashura sparked fears of ...

Reporting from Washington — The battle for dominance in the Middle East draws on ancient enmity between the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam, but what drives it is a thoroughly modern struggle ...

Sunni and Shia muslims: Islam's 1,400-year-old divide explained. The divisions date back to the years immediately after the Prophet Mohammed’s death ...

The war draws together Iran-backed Shia and Sunni militants in what appears to be closer cooperation between groups that differ in ideology but are united by opposition to Israel and the U.S.

Around 85 percent of Muslims worldwide adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam, while 15 percent are Shia. The Shia, however, are concentrated in Iran, Iraq and other key territories around the ...

Hezbollah, like Hamas, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and other countries and both share an antipathy toward Israel. Hamas says it belongs to the Sunni branch of Islam, along with the ...