Links to three reports from the Cradle, and to a discussion from Drop Site News; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down for UKRAINE, WEST BANK, GAZA, LEBANON and SUDAN, and down for IRAN 6-24-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

Saudi Arabia to host Gulf-Iran ‘reconciliation summit.’ From the Cradle. Diplomatic talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations between Persian Gulf countries and Iran are set to be held in Saudi Arabia, AFP reported on 25 June, citing sources familiar with the matter. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Iran pushing to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza during talks with U.S.: Hamas. From the Cradle. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim held a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday, the Palestinian resistance group announced in an official statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

IRGC Quds Force chief issues new warning to Israel. From the Cradle. The chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, issued a warning to Israel today demanding that it withdraw its occupation forces from “all of Lebanon.” READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 23  Watch: From Lake Lucerne to Lebanon, U.S.-Iran talks stumble forward. Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill of Drop Site News and journalist Murtaza Hussain talk about the recent round of talks in Switzerland, the emerging strategic landscape in the Middle East after the war, and the prospects for a settlement in Lebanon. Additionally, Grim and Hussain discuss Tuesday’s primary election in New York and growing challenges to the influence of pro-Israel lobby groups in U.S. domestic politics. Click HERE for video and a print introduction.

.

Links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Breaking Points, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for UKRAINE, WEST BANK, GAZA, LEBANON and IRAN.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 24  Fears grow for civilians as paramilitary group closes in on strategic Sudanese city, by Fatima Khaled | AP  CAIRO — Paramilitary attacks on a strategic city of a half-million people in central Sudan have raised international alarm that another round of mass violence against civilians is being planned as the country’s war surges into its fourth year. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 24  UN: RSF have used rape and sexual slavery as weapons of war in Sudan since 2023, by Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye  The Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group is responsible for the majority of sexual crimes committed by warring parties in Sudan over the past three years, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 24  Trump does NOTHING as UAE Sudan horrors loom. Ryan Grim and Krystal Ball of Breaking Points discuss events in Sudan, where Rapid Support Forces paramilitary soldiers backed by the United Arab Emirates are advancing on the city of Obeid. Click HERE for video.

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 18  Western countries warn of atrocities, imminent RSF escalation in Sudan’s al-Obeid, by Olivia Poidevin | Reuters  GENEVA — Dozens of countries including Britain, France and Germany raised the alarm at the U.N. Human Rights Council on June 18 that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces could imminently escalate an assault ‌on the central Sudanese city of al-Obeid, possibly resulting in large-scale atrocities. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 15   Sudan enters fourth year of war, by Emmanuel Akinwotu | NPR  LAGOS, Nigeria — It has been three years since fighting erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, devastating what was once one of Africa’s major urban centers, then spreading across the country. READ MORE . . .

–

A link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for LEBANON, UKRAINE, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and for GAZA 6-23-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

Links to reports from Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for GAZA, UKRAINE, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for LEBANON 6-23-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

Lebanon says Israeli strike on vehicle in south kills two. From AFP. An Israeli strike on a vehicle in South Lebanon killed two people today, Lebanese state media reported, a day after Israeli gunfire killed two people which Hezbollah called a “violation” of a truce between the two sides. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Links to reports from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for GAZA, LEBANON, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for UKRAINE 6-23-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

.

–   –   –

Russian strike in Ukraine kills mine disposal expert. From AFP. A Russian strike on southern Ukraine has killed a mine disposal expert working for the Oslo-based charity Norwegian People’s Aid, the group said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

.

Links to two reports from the Associated Press and to commentaries via ScheerPost and Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for LEBANON, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and down for IRAN 6-23-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

.

–   –   – 

.

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 23  Israel’s game is up, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost  Israel is blind to its own limitations. It is willing to inflict harm on its allies, including the U.S., in service to itself. And that is what it now intends to do. READ MORE . . .

.

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 23  In praise of defeat, by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  Well, J.D. Vance had his first talks with the Iranians — 18 hours of them Sunday tipping into Monday — since the American and Iranian presidents signed the two sides’ much-disputed memorandum of understanding last Wednesday. What got done? READ MORE . . .

.

A link to an article via Informed Comment; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up for today’s LEBANON, UKRAINE and IRAN so far, and down for ALL OF IT 6-21-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 14  Are you an internationalist? by Arnold Oliver | Special to Informed Comment  TIFFIN, Ohio — Odds are good that no one has ever asked if you are an internationalist, but your answer to that question reveals much about your orientation to your fellow human beings around the globe. It is worth your time to give it some thought. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to reports from Reuters and the Moscow Times; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for today’s WEST BANK, GAZA, LEBANON and IRAN, and for UKRAINE 6-18-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

Russia eyes diesel ban, fuel imports amid Ukrainian strikes; Crimea restricts public life. From Reuters. Russia is considering a diesel export ban, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today, while a newspaper reported on possible fuel imports to tackle shortages, especially in Crimea, which tightened restrictions on public services and activities. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 22  Inside the Ukrainian deep-strike campaign that has Moscow on the back foot, by Brawley Benson | The Moscow Times  Seemingly more so than any other point during the war, Ukraine has been able to seriously incapacitate Russian energy infrastructure and factories contributing to the war effort. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down UKRAINE, GAZA, LEBANON and IRAN, and down for WEST BANK 6-22-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

UN inquiry finds Israel ‘intentionally’ targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, occupied West Bank. From the Cradle. A report issued by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory today found that Israeli troops are deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as a central element of their ethnic cleansing campaign. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Netanyahu says Israel must ‘break free from dependence’ after tensions with Trump. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel must reduce its dependence on foreign support and build an independent arms system amid disagreements between his government and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to report from the Cradle and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for UKRAINE, WEST BANK, LEBANON and IRAN, and down for GAZA 6-22-26.) — MCM

–   –   –

UN inquiry finds Israel ‘intentionally’ targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, occupied West Bank. From the Cradle. A report issued by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory today found that Israeli troops are deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as a central element of their ethnic cleansing campaign. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Netanyahu says Israel must ‘break free from dependence’ after tensions with Trump. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel must reduce its dependence on foreign support and build an independent arms system amid disagreements between his government and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

.