NOTE: THIS IS THE ONLY ENTRY FOR TODAY

For this date, links to 10 reports: from the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-16-25 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Russian attacks kill 7, injure 25 in Ukraine over past 24 hours; trains hit twice in one day, by Anna Fratsyvir | The Kyiv Independent  Russian strikes killed at least seven people, including a train driver in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and injured 25 others in multiple regions over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian regional authorities said today. Ukraine’s Air Force said . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for July 17 report from the Moscow Times.

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Zelensky taps ex-Defense chief Umerov as Security Council secretary, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  President Volodymyr Zelensky today signed a decree that appointed Rustem Umerov, previously his Minister of Defense, as Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. READ MORE . . .

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Disruptions of cellphone internet links in Russia are spreading, by Dasha Litvinova | AP  TALLINN — In the last two months cellphone internet shutdowns, which officials say are needed to foil Ukrainian drones, have hit dozens of Russian regions — from those near the fighting to parts of Siberia and even the Far East. Wi-Fi outages also have been reported. READ MORE . . .

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Russian-controlled Crimea brings in information blackout designed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Authorities in Russian-controlled Crimea said today they were introducing an information blackout designed to counter Ukrainian drone, missile and sabotage attacks. READ MORE . . .

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EU approves 18th round of sanctions against Russia. From AFP. EU countries today approved a new package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including lowering the price cap on Russia’s global oil exports. The 18th round of sanctions since the 2022 invasion . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Russia not ruling out countermeasures against new EU sanctions — Foreign Ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia does not exclude countermeasures after analyzing the 18th package of EU sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Tass. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 17  Russia returns 1K bodies of killed Ukrainian soldiers. From the Moscow Times. Russia returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat and received the remains of 19 Russian soldiers under a deal reached during last month’s peace talks in Istanbul, authorities in Moscow said Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 17  Ukraine to boost domestic arms production to counter Russia’s invasion, says Zelenskyy, by Volodymyr Yurchuk and Emma Burrows | AP  KYIV — A new Ukrainian government approved Thursday will race to expand domestic arms production to meet half the country’s weapons needs within six months as it tries to push back Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Meanwhile . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 7-16-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, YEMEN and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect, by Kareem Chehayeb and Ghaith Alsayed | AP  DAMASCUS — Syrian forces largely withdrew from the southern province of Sweida today following days of clashes with militias linked to the Druze minority. While a truce appeared to . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and the Cradle.

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FROM JULY 16  Israeli air strikes on Syria’s capital marked a sharp escalation. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  Israel bombed the Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday, saying it targeted the Syrian military headquarters and the area near the presidential palace to protect the Druze religious minority in Syria. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters,  Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; an interview from NPR; a guest essay from the New York Times via pan-Asian.blogspot.com; and a reply to it from a blog of the Times of Israel; other published material or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on sources’ names or initials below. (GAZA 7-16-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA, YEMEN and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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2 killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, by Wafaa Shurafa and Melanie Lidman | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church this morning, according to church officials. Several others, including the parish priest, were injured. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE and HERE for report from Reuters and earlier one from AFP.

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UN Security Council to meet today to discuss situation in the Middle East. Reported by Ruth Sherlock and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Israel hit the Syrian military headquarters and close to the presidential palace in Damascus with airstrikes Wednesday. The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the crisis between the countries. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Stampede at food distribution site in Gaza leaves about 20 dead. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Hannah Bloch of NPR A stampede in Gaza on Wednesdayleft around 20 people dead as they were rushing to collect food at a U.S.- and Israeli-backed food distribution site. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Historian Omer Bartov on why he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR  NPR’s Steve Inskeep speaks with Omer Bartov, Holocaust and genocide studies scholar at Brown University, about his essay outlining why he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for Bartov’s essay in the July 15 New York Times via pan-asian.blogspot.com.

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Respectfully, Professor Bartov: This is not genocide, by Seth Eisenberg | The Times of Israel  In his New York Times opinion piece, “I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It,” Dr. Omer Bartov of Brown University expresses his anguished belief that Israel’s war in Gaza now constitutes genocide. Let’s examine his core assertions one by one. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 16  UNRWA: Israel kills the equivalent of a classroom full of children each day in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees estimated that since October 2023, Israel, the occupying power, has been killing the equivalent of a classroom full of children each day, with the number of students ranging between 35 and 45. READ MORE . . .

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For today, a link to a report from Anadolu; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (YEMEN 7-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA, GAZA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 16  Yemen’s government claims to seize Iranian arms shipment bound for Houthis, by Tarek Chouiref | Anadolu  ISTANBUL — Forces allied to the Yemeni government claimed on Wednesday to have seized 750 tons of Iranian weapons in the Red Sea bound for the Houthi group. READ MORE . . .

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For today, link to a report from Anadolu; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (IRAN 7-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA, GAZA and YEMEN entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 16  Yemen’s government claims to seize Iranian arms shipment bound for Houthis, by Tarek Chouiref | Anadolu  ISTANBUL — Forces allied to the Yemeni government claimed on Wednesday to have seized 750 tons of Iranian weapons in the Red Sea bound for the Houthi group. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and Anadolu; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 7-15-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli army prepares ‘prolonged operation’ in Syria following massive attack on Damascus. From the Cradle. Tel Aviv is preparing for a “prolonged military operation in Syria that could last for days,” according to a report aired today by Israel’s Channel 12 — this on the heels of airstrikes hitting . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel strikes Damascus as fighting rages in southern Syria, by Khalil Ashawi, Maya Gebeily, Yamam al-Shaar, Laila Bassam, Steven Scheer and Tala Ramadan | Reuters  DAMASCUS / BEIRUT / JERUSALEM / DUBAI — Powerful airstrikes shook Damascus today, targeting the defence ministry as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw. READ MORE . . .

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Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes between Syrian forces and minority Druze rage on, by Abdelrahman Shaheen and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  DAMASCUS — Clashes raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida today after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatened to escalate its involvement, saying it’s in support of the Druze religious minority. The Israeli army struck . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel bombs Syrian government buildings in Damascus. From Middle East Eye. Israeli air strikes hit Damascus today, reportedly targeting the Syrian defence ministry, military headquarters and the vicinity of the presidential palace. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE  and HERE for three reports from Anadolu.

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Armed groups using Suwayda hospital to attack Syrian forces, defense ministry says, by Abdulsalam Fayez and Tarek Chouiref | Anadolu   ISTANBUL — Syria’s Defense Ministry today accused “outlaw armed groups” of occupying the main hospital in the southern Suwayda province and using it as a base to target army forces — saying the groups had stationed snipers on the hospital’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-15-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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20 Palestinians killed at Gaza aid distribution site, says Israeli-backed aid group, by Melanie Lidman and Wafaa Shurafa | AP  TEL AVIV — Twenty Palestinians were killed today in the crush of a crowd at a food distribution site run by an Israeli-backed American organization in the Gaza Strip, the group said, the first time it has acknowledged deadly violence at its operations. The deaths came as Israeli strikes killed 41 others, including 11 children, according to hospital officials. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas steadfast on ‘humanitarian standards’ for Gaza aid as GHF death toll nears 900. From the Cradle. Hamas negotiators say they “remain firm” on upholding humanitarian standards for aid deliveries to Gaza in indirect talks with Israeli officials in Doha, as Tel Aviv insists on maintaining aid distribution under the control of the U.S.-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 15  Israeli army stole donkeys from Gaza; transported them to France. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli army has reportedly stolen hundreds of donkeys from the besieged Gaza Strip, smuggled them to Israel, and transported them to France to prevent their use in reconstruction, Israeli Channel Kan reported. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, Tass, and to three analyses, from AP, Reuters, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-15-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia launches new attacks on Ukraine with the countdown to a U.S. peace deadline underway, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian weapons pounded four Ukrainian cities overnight from Tuesday to today, injuring at least 15 people in an attack that mostly targeted energy infrastructure, officials said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for AP analysis, which links to earlier reports.

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Russia launches hundreds of drones at Ukraine, defying Trump’s peace ultimatum. From AFP. Russia’s military launched a fresh wave of air attacks on Ukraine between late Tuesday and early today, Ukrainian officials said, defying U.S. President Trump’s calls for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire deal. The attacks killed one woman and wounded more than . . . READ MORE . . .

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Explosion kills Russian Skat 350M drone crew in occupied Tokmak – Ukrainian intel. From Kyiv Post. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has detailed of the elimination of a Russian drone crew operating a “Skat 350M” unmanned aerial vehicle in the temporarily occupied city of Tokmak in central Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskiy aims to woo both public and Trump with fresh-faced Ukraine cabinet, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  KYIV — Ukraine will get its first new prime minister of the war on Thursday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tries to wrestle wartime defence spending into shape and win over both Donald Trump and a war-weary public with fresh-faced leadership. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s new ground drones are hitting the battlefield in ever-increasing numbers, by Tania Myronyshena | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s use of unmanned ground vehicles has accelerated in recent months, a development experts say could help ease pressure on infantry as Kyiv struggles with ongoing recruitment problems and losses. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Novokhatskoye community in Donetsk region over past day — ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Novokhatskoye in the Donetsk region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to three reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 7-14-25 is HERE, or scroll down. LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli concentration camp in Rafah to confine Gaza’s ‘entire population’: report. From the Cradle. Israeli officials briefed journalists and foreign diplomats on a plan to force the entire population of Gaza, over 2 million people, into a concentration camp controlled by Israel’s military close to the Gaza–Egypt border, the New York Times reported today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Gaza infants’ lives at risk amid fuel shortages. From Middle East Eye. Palestinian infants reliant on incubators in Gaza are fighting for their lives amid a critical fuel shortage, exacerbated by Israel’s increasingly stringent blockade on aid and essential supplies. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, and Anadolu; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON 7-7-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, SYRIA, WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israel strikes on east Lebanon kill 12: state media. From AFP. BEIRUT — Israeli strikes on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people today, Lebanese state media reported, as the Israeli army said it hit Hezbollah targets in the area. READ MORE . . .

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Israel launches wave of attacks on eastern Lebanon. From the Cradle. Several people were injured in the eastern Lebanese Bekaa region today after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on the area, claiming to target Hezbollah facilities. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu.

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FROM JULY 9  Israeli army launches ‘special, targeted’ operations in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire, by Mohammad Sıo | Anadolu  The Israeli army said Wednesday its forces launched “special, targeted” operations into southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement. READ MORE . . .

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