A link to an article and a letter, both via Consortium News, and a report from Truthout; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for ALL OF IT 7-30-26.) — MCM

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FROM AUG. 6  Let Hiroshima remind us, by Scott Ritter | Special to Consortium News  The United States is redesigning its nuclear posture to make the employment of tactical nuclear weapons during the early stages of conflict official doctrine. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 6  An appeal to Pope Leo  Signed by Jack Gilroy and seven other members of Pax Christi in New York State.  We are getting as close to nuclear war as we were during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. That crisis ended with diplomacy that saved the planet, and Pope John XXIII was a key figure in making that happen. His influential role is not well known. This is how it developed. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 5  Faith leaders collectively raise alarm as AI and nuclear weapons systems merge, by Jon Letman | Truthout   Spending on nuclear weapons continues to rise sharply, growing by nearly 20 percent last year as nuclear arsenals are modernized and expanded. In May, for the third time in 16 years, negotiations over the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty failed to reach a consensus document. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

Links to three reports: from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for today’s GAZA, WEST BANK, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for LEBANON 8–5-26.) — MCM

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Explosive device kills two Israeli soldiers, wounds several in south Lebanon. From the Cradle. Tel Aviv confirmed in a statement today that two of its occupation soldiers were killed by a resistance explosive device in Lebanon a day earlier, coinciding with a significant escalation of strikes on the country’s south. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 5  Israel escalates against south Lebanon amid reports of new resistance operation. From the Cradle. The Israeli army launched a deadly wave of airstrikes against south Lebanon on Wednesday, announcing in a statement that “precise strikes” were carried out in response to a “blatant violation” of the so-called ceasefire by Hezbollah. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 5  Israeli military to set up polling stations in occupied Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, by Nadav Rapaport | Middle East Eye  TEL AVIV — The Israeli military has begun preparing to install polling stations in occupied areas of the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria ahead of the general election on Oct. 27, Army Radio reported on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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Links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s LEBANON, WEST BANK, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for GAZA 8-4-26.) — MCM

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Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ issues first building contract for outpost to house Moroccan troops. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” has issued its first construction contract for Gaza since the organization’s establishment in January, the Guardian reported today, citing a source familiar with the matter. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 5  Israeli military to set up polling stations in occupied Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, by Nadav Rapaport | Middle East Eye  TEL AVIV — The Israeli military has begun preparing to install polling stations in occupied areas of the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria ahead of the general election on Oct. 27, Army Radio reported on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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Links to a report and analysis: from Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and Middle East Eye; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names, (Scroll up or down for today’s LEBANON, GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for WEST BANK 8-4-26.) — MCM

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Jewish terrorists have become ‘sovereign’ in West Bank, Ynet analyst says. From Middle East Monitor. Jewish extremists and terrorists have effectively become “the sovereign” in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army protects their illegal activities and serves the political interests of the far-right government, a veteran Israeli military analyst has warned. READ MORE . . .

Links to five reports: from Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, National Public Radio; and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s LEBANON, GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE, and down for IRAN 8-5-26.) — MCM

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Iran and U.S. say a Strait of Hormuz deal is close, but one or both would have to back down, by Elena Becatoros, Samy Magdy and Darlene Superville | AP  CAIRO — Iran said today it is in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said a deal could be announced this week. That could potentially reopen the critical waterway, ease pressure on the world economy and help bring an end to the war. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from NPR. Click HERE for Aug. 5 report from the Cradle.

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Links to four reports: from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for today’s LEBANON, GAZA, WEST BANK and IRAN , and down for UKRAINE 8-5-26.) — MCM

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Member of Ukraine’s parliament on the country’s need for more missile interceptors. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Oleksandr Merezhko about Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. Ukrainian officials say their country is low on missile interceptors. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE for Aug. 5 NPR report.

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First, links to two reports: from the Cradle and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for today’s LEBANON, IRAN and UKRAINE so far, and for YEMEN 7-26-26.) — MCM

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Yemen announces strike on eighth Saudi tanker since start of naval blockade. From the Cradle. Yemeni Armed Forces today announced a strike on the Saudi oil tanker Wafa with “a number of ballistic missiles” in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 4  Indian vessel sinks after Red Sea attack off Yemen, all 14 crew rescued. From Middle East Monitor. An Indian vessel sank after coming under attack in the Red Sea by an explosives-laden boat off Yemen’s western coast, with all 14 crew members rescued, Yemen’s government-aligned National Resistance Forces announced on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to three reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor, and to an analysis from Middle East Eye; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, IRAN and UKRAINE so far, and down for LEBANON 8-1-26.) — MCM

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Israel escalates against south Lebanon amid reports of new resistance operation. From the Cradle. The Israeli army launched a deadly wave of airstrikes against south Lebanon today, announcing in a statement that “precise strikes” were carried out in response to a “blatant violation” of the so-called ceasefire by Hezbollah. READ MORE . . .

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Trump demanded direct talks with Hezbollah but was denied, by Adam Chamseddine and Daniel Hilton | Middle East Eye  BEIRUT — Donald Trump called the Lebanese ambassador in Washington in late May and demanded a direct conversation with Hezbollah, a request that was then denied to the U.S. president. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 4  Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome focus on border, security arrangements: Lebanese official. From Middle East Monitor. The first day of the seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome focused on border issues and mechanisms to verify the implementation of security arrangements, a senior Lebanese official said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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The resurrection of Hezbollah, by Daniel Hilton and Adam Chamseddine | Middle East Eye  There was a moment, in late September 2024, when Hezbollah was in complete disarray. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, LEBANON and UKRAINE so far, and down for IRAN 8-4-26.) — MCM

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U.S. missile stockpiles are dwindling and could take years to replenish. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Steve Inskeep | NPR  The war with Iran has fueled a shortage of U.S. long-range precision missiles. Stockpiles are expected to take years to replenish. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE for Aug. 4 report from NPR.

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For now, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for today’s YEMEN, LEBANON and IRAN so far, and down for UKRAINE 8-4-26.) — MCM

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