For now, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, IRAN, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. LEBANON 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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France offers mediation to ‘stabilize’ Lebanon–Syria border clashes. From the Cradle. France has offered its mediation to help put an end to the ongoing clashes that have been raging on the Syrian–Lebanese border in recent days. French President Emmanuel Macron offered Lebanon assistance in “stabilizing” the situation on its border with Lebanon — and . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Middle East Monitor and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, IRAN, LEBANON, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. SYRIA 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Syrians returning to the town of Tel Rifaat find homes in ruins and underground tunnels, by Khalil Hamra | AP  TEL RIFAAT, Syria — The long anticipated return home for residents of the Syrian town of Tel Rifaat, displaced since 2014, has collided with a painful reality — scars of war, streets lined with rubble and ruins standing in place of . . . Click HERE for article and photos.

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Israel targets military airport in Syria. From Middle East Monitor. Syrian media reported explosions at the Khalakhla Air Base, in the north of Syria’s Suwayda province, as warplanes were heard flying over the area. Syria TV reported Sunday evening that Israeli occupation forces were attcking the airport. Earlier Sunday . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reporta from the Cradle and the Associated Press; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, IRAN, LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. WEST BANK 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Israel expands West Bank ‘open-fire’ orders against unarmed civilians. From the Cradle. The Israeli army has expanded the scope of its “open-fire” orders in the occupied West Bank, leading to a rise in civilian deaths during Israel’s current assault across the territory, Haaretz newspaper reported today. READ MORE . . .

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After the ceasefire in Gaza, West Bank Palestinians face more Israeli barriers, traffic and misery, by Isabel Debre | AP RAMALLAH, West Bank  — Israel justifies its measures tightening the noose around Palestinian cities in the West Bank as essential to guard against militant attacks. Click HERE for article, a video and photos.

For today, links to seven reports: from Tass, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Politico, Reuters, the Moscow Times, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, IRAN, LEBANON, SYRIA and WEST BANK entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields over past day — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian military airfields 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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FROM FEB. 9  U.S. officials are bound for Europe for top-level talks on Ukraine. From AP. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Sunday top administration officials will meet with European officials this week about how to end the war in Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia launched an all-out invasion. READ MORE . . .

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Russia massing troops for new assaults in Chasiv Yar, military warns, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Russian forces are concentrating troops for fresh assaults in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, Lt. Col. Dmytro Zaporozhets, a spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk, said today. READ MORE . . .

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Inside the new plan to seize Russia’s shadow fleet, by Victor Jack and Gabriel Gavin | Politico  PORVOO, Finland — European countries are holding behind-the-scenes talks on large-scale seizures of Moscow’s oil-exporting tankers in the Baltic Sea, according to two European Union diplomats and two government officials. They also . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. funding freeze threatens investigations of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. From Reuters. THE HAGUE / KYIV — The Trump administration’s freeze of foreign funding has begun impacting an international effort to hold Russia responsible for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, according to eight sources and a Ukrainian document seen by Reuters, halting dozens of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in aid. READ MORE . . .

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Russian prison authorities approved widespread brutality against Ukrainian POWs – WSJ. The Moscow Times. The approval of brutality and torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war came weeks after the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported today citing three former prison officials. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainians are closely following a homegrown map of the shifting front line. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  An incredibly popular map of the shifting frontline, created by two childhood friends, has become an essential tool for Ukrainians seeking a realistic view of where the war stands. Click HERE to listen and later read.

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. SYRIA 2-5-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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‘State of panic’ among locals as Israel expands occupation of south Syria. From the Cradle. The Israeli army expanded its occupation of southern Syria on 9 February, continuing its campaign of destroying infrastructure belonging to the former Syrian Arab Army (SAA). READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from the Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from Consortium News and, via CN, an interview from the Chris Hedges Report; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. GAZA 2-8-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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4 Palestinians killed by Israeli army fire in Gaza despite ceasefire, by Hosni Nedim and Betul Yilmaz | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine — Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip today despite a ceasefire agreement in the enclave, a medical source said. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli forces withdraw from a key Gaza corridor as violence surges in West Bank, by Tian Goldenberg and Mohammad Jahjouh | AP  MUGHRAQA, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces withdrew from a key Gaza corridor today, Israeli officials and Hamas said. Separately today, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that two women in their 20s, including one who was eight months pregnant, were fatally shot by Israeli gunfire in the northern occupied West Bank. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and Middle East Eye, and Reuters photos via MEE.

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FROM FEB. 8  2 children killed in wall collapse in Gaza City after Israeli strike, by Ahmed Asmar | Anadolu Agency  ANKARA — Two Palestinian girls were killed in the collapse of a concrete wall of a house struck by Israeli warplanes in Gaza City, local authorities said on Saturday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 6  Trump wants more war for Gaza ploy, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News  Despite a worldwide outcry from friends and foes that his plan amounts to a war crime, and despite efforts by his own officials (who did not know he would announce the plan) to reframe his intentions . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  Arab regimes & the betrayal of Palestine. Chris Hedges of the Chris Hedges Report talks with Farah El-Sharif, writer, academic and Visiting Scholar at Stanford about, among other things, the origins of “war on terror,” the Abraham Accords, and the experience of the Palestinians. Click HERE for video and transcript.

For today, links to five reports: from the Cradle, the Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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Tulkarem officially enters circle of fire as Israel wipes out West Bank infrastructure, targets civilians. From the Cradle. The Israeli army expanded its incursions into the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem today as part of a brutal, widescale operation across the territory, killing at least two, including a pregnant woman. An Israeli army spokesman . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli army expands assault in northern West Bank, by Aysar Alais and Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — The Israeli army expanded its assault in the northern West Bank today, staging an incursion into the Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarem city. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli forces raid village in Nablus. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces have stormed the village of an-Nassariya in northeastern Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera reported. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli forces withdraw from a key Gaza corridor as violence surges in West Bank, by Tian Goldenberg and Mohammad Jahjouh | AP  MUGHRAQA, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces withdrew from a key Gaza corridor today, Israeli officials and Hamas said. Separately today, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that two women in their 20s, including one who was eight months pregnant, were fatally shot by Israeli gunfire in the northern occupied West Bank. READ MORE . . .

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Over 20,000 Palestinians displaced by Israeli assault on Jenin refugee camp in West Bank: official, by Aysar Alais and Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — “The [Israeli] occupation has entirely destroyed the Jenin refugee camp and forcibly displaced over 20,000 residents, leaving behind their homes, documents, and personal belongings,” Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi said today. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to 15 reports: from Agence France-Presse, Tass, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Anadolu Agency, the New York Post, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, SYRIA and WEST BANK entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-7-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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Russia claims east Ukraine village near strategic town. From AFP. Russia said today its forces had captured the eastern Ukrainian village of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, near the strategic military hub of Chasiv Yar that Moscow is attempting to seize. READ MORE . . .

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Kiev forces lost a tank, over 140 soldiers in Battlegroup East zone of responsibility. From Tass. MOSCOW — The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the zone of responsibility of the Battlegroup East in one day amounted to a tank, an armored combat vehicle and more than 140 soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Baltic states switch to European power grid, ending Russia ties. From Reuters. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said today they had successfully synchronized their electricity systems to the European continental power grid, one day after severing decades-old energy ties to Russia and Belarus. READ MORE . . .

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Trump confirms call with Putin, says Russian leader wants Ukraine war to end: report, by Gizem Nisa Cebi | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — U.S. President Donald Trump said he had held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, discussing efforts to end the Moscow-Kyiv war, according to the New York Post. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from the New York Post, Reuters and Tass.

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AFU crush Russian elite tank division in Kharkiv region, repels breakthrough attempt: brigade. From Kyiv Post. Ukrainian forces eliminated a column of Russian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles attempting to breach their defensive lines in the Kharkiv region, according to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, which led the operation on Saturday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 8  Ukraine says it downed Russian Su-25 warplane in Donetsk Oblast. From the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine’s military said on Saturday it had downed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft near the town of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  Russia says captured key mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine. From AFP. Russia said Friday its forces had seized the mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine after months of heavy fighting. Kyiv denied Russia had full control of the industrial hub. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s military says it shot down 70 out of 151 drones launched by Russia overnight. From Reuters. Ukraine’s military said on Sunday that it shot down 70 drones out of the 151 that Russia launched to attack the country overnight. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 8  Zelenskyy confirms a new Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday confirmed a new Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kurskregion and said North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russian forces there. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 8  Trump says he wants to negotiate about Ukraine. It’s not clear if Putin really does, by Emma Burrows | AP  Nearly three years after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, his troops are making steady progress on the battlefield. Kyiv is grappling with shortages of men and weapons. And the new U.S. president could soon . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 8  Zelensky offers Trump mineral partnership, seeks security. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals during an interview on Friday, part of a push to appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s penchant for a deal. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 8  Trump says he may meet Ukraine’s Zelenskiy next week, by Steve Holland | Reuters  WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he would probably meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy next week to discuss Ukraine’s war to repel Russian invaders. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to an editorial from Middle East Monitor; to six reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, and National Public Radio; and to commentary from ScheerPost; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON and MEDIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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From militants to politicians: Can Hamas follow Syria’s Islamist reinvention? From Middle East Monitor. Since last December, many feared the repercussions of the power vacuum left by the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime. Regionally and internationally . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas releases 3 more Israeli hostages for 183 Palestinian prisoners under Gaza ceasefire, by Wafaa Shurafa, Mohammad Jahjouh and Tia Goldenberg | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli hostages on Saturday, and Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile agreement that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, Middle East Monitor and Middle East Eye.

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Egypt condemns Netanyahu’s call for Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia. From Middle East Eye. Egypt has strongly criticised comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he suggested that a Palestinian state could be established on Saudi territory. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian ambassador to the U.S., discusses Trump’s plans for Gaza. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian foreign minister and ambassador to the U.S., about how Egypt views President Trump’s plans for Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 7  Trump’s plan to colonise Gaza echoes failed 19th-century American missions, by Joseph Massad | Middle East Eye  President Donald Trump’s capitalist evangelical plan to steal and colonise Gaza is not the first American project to establish colonies in Palestine. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  All the gloves come off in Gaza, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  Donald Trump announced his plan to depopulate the Gaza Strip and turn it into some kind of paradise built atop the bones of terrorist Israel’s victims in the presence of Bibi Netanyahu, who . . .  READ MORE . . .

For today, links to an editorial from Middle East Monitor and to commentary from ScheerPost; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, LEBANON and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. WEST BANK 2-7-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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From militants to politicians: Can Hamas follow Syria’s Islamist reinvention? From Middle East Monitor. Hamas has gained increased popularity in the West Bank, but this support is primarily for its military operations rather than its governance. Many Palestinians view. . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  All the gloves come off in Gaza, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  President Trump’s announcement of plans for the Gaza Strip has set free ultra–Zionists of all sorts. It is now perfectly acceptable for public officials to advocate Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. READ MORE . . .