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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Links to report from the Cradle and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for today’s WEST BANK, GAZA, IRAN, UKRAINE and COVID ETC.; scroll down for YEMEN 7-26-26 or click HERE.) — MCM

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Yeman targets Najran Airport in Saudi Arabia with drone attack. From the Cradle. The Yemeni Armed Forces announced today that it targeted a “sensitive site” at a Saudi airport with a drone attack, just days after the leader of Yemen’s resistance warned Riyadh that it will face “full escalation” from Sanaa if renews its war against the country. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 3  Six Saudi tankers turn away from Gulf of Aden, ship-tracking data shows, by Jonathan Saul | Reuters  LONDON – Six Saudi-flagged supertankers have changed course in the Gulf of Aden in recent days and are heading to southern Africa following threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement to target Saudi shipping, tracking data showed on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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A link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, GAZA, IRAN, UKRAINE and COVID ETC., and down for WEST BANK 8-3-26.) — MCM

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Israel allocates $37M to develop alleged Jewish heritage sites in occupied West Bank. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich today announced the allocation of $37 million to develop alleged Jewish heritage sites in the West Bank, amid intensified illegal settlement expansion in the occupied territory, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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Links to five reports and a commentary: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, WEST BANK, IRAN, UKRAINE and COVID ETC., and down for GAZA 8-3-26.) — MCM

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Links to four reports: from Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and ABC News, and to a commentary from Indian Punchline; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE and COVID ETC., and for UKRAINE 8-3-26.) — MCM

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Iran demands Hormuz inbound control, outbound oversight, source says. From Reuters. DUBAI — Iran wants control over inbound shipping through the Strait of Hormuz ​and visibility over outbound traffic, with the ability to intervene if necessary, under a plan being discussed with Oman to reopen the strategic waterway, a senior Iranian source said Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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Trump insists Iran talks under way, warns Tehran’s ‘last chance’ to secure deal. From Middle East Eye. U.S. President Donald Trump claims that direct negotiations with Iran are under way, and has warned that the latest round is Tehran’s “last chance” to secure a deal to end the war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 3  India’s imports of Russian oil hit all-time high despite U.S. tariff threat. From the Cradle. India’s imports of sanctioned Russian crude hit an all-time high of 2.8 million barrels per day in July, according to vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited today by the Times of India. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 28  Senate overwhelmingly advances Russia sanctions bill named after Sen. Lindsey Graham, by Allison Pecorin | ABC News  With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy overlooking the floor, the Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly advanced a Russia and Iran sanctions bill named in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  Graham sanctions bill has bite. Trump will use it to terrorise India, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s characterisation of the reports suggesting the U.S. could impose a 100 percent tariff on countries such as India that import Russian oil as speculative cannot be taken as a statement of fact. READ MORE. . .

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Links to three reports: from the Moscow Times, the Cradle, and ABC News, and to a commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s YEMEN, WEST BANK, GAZA, IRAN and COVID ETC., and down for UKRAINE 8-3-26.) — MCM

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At least 5 killed in Ukraine’s latest drone attacks against Wildberries. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drones struck multiple warehouses across Russia overnight, including two run by online retailer Wildberries, killing at least five people, local officials said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 3  India’s imports of Russian oil hit all-time high despite U.S. tariff threat. From the Cradle. India’s imports of sanctioned Russian crude hit an all-time high of 2.8 million barrels per day in July, according to vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited today by the Times of India. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 28  Senate overwhelmingly advances Russia sanctions bill named after Sen. Lindsey Graham, by Allison Pecorin | ABC News  With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy overlooking the floor, the Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly advanced a Russia and Iran sanctions bill named in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  Graham sanctions bill has bite. Trump will use it to terrorise India, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s characterisation of the reports suggesting the U.S. could impose a 100 percent tariff on countries such as India that import Russian oil as speculative cannot be taken as a statement of fact. READ MORE. . .

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Links to an interview from ScheerPost and to a report from the Associated Press; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for today’s YEMEN, WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE and COVID ETC., and down for COVID ETC. 12-15-25 and 12-1-25, or click HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM AUG. 3_ Monday With McGovern: Fauci, Covid origins, and the intelligence community’s quiet war over the truth. Robert Scheer of ScheerPost talks with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. From ScheerPost intro: “Anthony Fauci was once presented as the unimpeachable voice of science. Now, confronted with questions about gain-of-function research, the Wuhan laboratory and . . . Click HERE for video, an introduction, transcript and summary.

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FROM JULY 29  Fauci repeatedly invokes the Fifth Amendment in a contentious Senate committee hearing, by Lauran Neergaard and Ali Swenson | AP  WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer dozens of questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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