For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press and Middle East Eye, and to two articles of commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 6-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel backs an anti-Hamas armed group known for looting aid in Gaza. Here’s what we know, by Julia Frankel, Sam Mednick, Samy Magdy and Lee Keath | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel is supporting armed groups of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas. But officials from the U.N. and aid organizations say the military is allowing them to loot food and other supplies from their trucks. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  Gaza marks the start of Eid with outdoor prayers in the rubble and food growing ever scarcer, by Wafaa Shurafa | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians across the war-ravaged Gaza Strip marked the start of one of Islam’s most important holidays with prayers outside destroyed mosques and homes early Friday, with little hope the war with Israel will end soon. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

UK and France abandon plans to recognise Palestinian state at conference, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  The UK and France will abandon previous plans to recognise a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference, according to diplomats. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  Israel has sold record amount of debt in U.S. since war on Gaza erupted: report. From Middle East Eye. Israel has sold a record amount of debt in the U.S. since its war on Gaza erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, according to a report by Bloomberg on Friday. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  Ex-CIA officer running Gaza aid security advised Boston Consulting Group, by Dania Akkad | Middle East Eye  Former CIA paramilitary officer Phil Reilly, who heads a private military company that is guarding Israel’s newly set up food distribution sites in Gaza, was a senior advisor at the U.S. consultancy that is the latest partner to withdraw from the controversial aid project. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  Netanyahu’s latest gamble: A ‘third-force’ headed by a criminal gang leader, by Iqbal Jassat | Middle East Monitor  The genie is now out of the bottle, despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s vain efforts to suppress news of his devious third-force created to counter the Palestinian resistance. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 4  Israeli lies and western complicity: How deceit became a weapon of war, by Jamal Kanj | Middle East Monitor  Throughout its long history of ethnic cleansing and occupation, Israel has remained consistent in its tactics. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to reports from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK 6-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  Israel vows ‘escalation’ of West Bank land theft if EU recognizes Palestine. From the Cradle. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned on Friday that Tel Aviv has prepared an “escalation plan” in the occupied West Bank if European countries move forward with a push to recognize a Palestinian state. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

UK and France abandon plans to recognise Palestinian state at conference, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  The UK and France will abandon previous plans to recognise a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference, according to diplomats. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 3  Israeli soldiers bar media from visiting West Bank villages on tour organized by Oscar winners, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli soldiers on Monday barred journalists from entering villages in the West Bank on a planned tour organized by the directors of the Oscar-winning movie “No Other Land.” READ MORE . . .

.

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON 6-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 6  ‘No calm in Beirut, no stability in Lebanon’ until Hezbollah disarmed: Katz. From the Cradle.  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday threatened to escalate attacks against Lebanon if Hezbollah is not disarmed, following nighttime attacks targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, and the Moscow Times; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

–   –   –

Russian drones and missiles target Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, killing 3, officials say, by Samya Kullab and Volodymyr Yurkchuk | AP  KYIV — A large Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv today, killing at least three people and injuring 21, local officials said. The barrage — the latest in near daily widescale attacks — included aerial glide bombs that have become . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Ukraine downs fighter jet in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Air Force says, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in Russia’s Kursk Oblast this morning, the Air Force reported. Ukraine’s General Staff said . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Moscow Times.

–   –   –

France to produce drones in Ukraine, minister says, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent   French automotive and defense companies will produce drones on Ukrainian soil, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced on Saturday, Le Monde reported. READ MORE . . .

.

First, a link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 6-3-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli settlers burn Palestinian homes and property in West Bank town, by Fayha Shalash | Middle East Eye  RAMALLAH, occupied Palestine  Israeli settlers set fire to several Palestinian properties and injured dozens of residents in the occupied West Bank town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, on Wednesday evening. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from the Cradle, the Associated Press and Reuters, and to an article of commentary from the Cradle; others or headlines of others accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON 6-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Lebanese army may partially ‘freeze cooperation’ with U.S.-led ceasefire committee. From the Cradle. The Lebanese Armed Forced this morning released a statement warning it could potentially “freeze cooperation” with the US-led ceasefire monitoring committee regarding site inspections, due to constant Israeli violations. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 5  Israel strikes Beirut’s suburbs to target what it says is Hezbollah drone production, by Abby Sewell | AP  BEIRUT — The Israeli military on Thursday struck several sites in Beirut’s southern suburbs that it said held underground facilities used by Hezbollah for drone production — marking the first time in more than a month that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 5  Threats of another Israeli war in Lebanon are just noise, by Qassem Qassem | The Cradle  In recent months, anxiety and anticipation have gripped the Lebanese public, stoked by some political analysts aligned with the Lebanese resistance who have publicly speculated about the possibility of a new war. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from Antiwar.com and Reuters, and to commentary via Countercurrents.org; others or at least headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 6-5-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel is arming an ‘ISIS-affiliated’ gang in southern Gaza, by Dave DeCamp | Antiwar.com / ScheerPost  Israeli opposition leader and former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arming a gang in southern Gaza that’s affiliated with ISIS, a charge that has been confirmed by Israeli officials. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for June 6 report from Middle East Eye.

–   –   –

U.S.-backed Gaza aid group says all distribution sites closed after shootings, by Ahmed Elimam and Alexander Cornwell | Reuters  DUBAI  — A U.S.- and Israeli-backed group handing out aid in Gaza said today all its distribution sites were closed until further notice, urging residents to stay away from these venues “for their safety” after a series of deadly shootings. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 4  Israel is fully integrating its Gaza ‘food aid hubs’ into the genocide, by Jonathan Cook | Countercurrents.org  Israel claimed it had not fired at starving Palestinians queueing on Sunday morning to get food from one of its highly militarised “aid distribution hubs” – a system Israel imposed on Gaza in place of a long-established and successful aid network run by the United Nations. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, and Tass, and to an article of commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-5-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, LEBANON and GAZA entry for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

–   –   –

A Russian missile and drone attack across Ukraine kills 4 in the capital Kyiv, by Hanna Arhirova and Vasilisa Stepanenko | AP  KYIV — A nighttime missile and drone attack on Ukraine killed at least four people and injured 20 others in Kyiv, city mayor Vitali Klitschko said today, as Russia targeted at least six regions across the country with 407 drones and 44 missiles in one of its largest coordinated attacks of the three-year war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

–   –   –

Ukraine targets Russian airbases, defense plant in overnight drone strikes. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drones struck two Russian airbases, a fuel depot and a missile and aviation plant overnight, Ukraine’s military claimed Friday, as both sides ramp up long-range attacks. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian troops liberate seven communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated seven communities in the Sumy Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic over the week of May 31 – June 6 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Profiles in courage: Trump & Eisenhower, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  President Donald Trump had a difficult week. No, this isn’t about Elon Musk or Harvard University. On Wednesday,  his call to Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t go well. It turned . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For today, links to ten reports: from Middle East Eye, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and the Associated Press; others or just headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 6-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE, SYRIA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli strike on al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City kills journalists, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  At least four Palestinian journalists were killed today in Israeli strikes targeting a group of media workers in Gaza City’s al-Ahli Arab hospital’s courtyard, local reporters said. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. group distributing aid in Gaza reopens sites. From Reuters. A U.S. and Israeli-backed organisation distributing aid in Gaza said today it was reopening two distribution sites a day after shutting them following a series of deadly shootings close to its operations. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Gaza doctors give their own blood to patients after scores gunned down seeking aid, by Olivia Le Poidevin | Reuters GENEVA — Doctors in the Gaza Strip are donating their own blood to save their patients after scores of Palestinians were gunned down while trying to get food aid, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders said today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Rate of Gaza children suffering acute malnutrition nearly triples, survey shows, by Emma Farge | Reuters  GENEVA — The rate of young children suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza has nearly tripled since a ceasefire earlier this year when aid flowed more freely, according to data collected by humanitarian groups and released by the U.N. today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Israel opposition leader says Netanyahu arming ‘equivalent of ISIS’ gangs in Gaza. From Middle East Eye. Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman has accused Israeli forces, under the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of arming “crime families” in Gaza. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Middle East Monitor and the Cradle. 

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 4  U.S. vetoes UN Security Council demand for Gaza ceasefire, by Michelle Nichols, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Crispian Balmer | Reuters  UNITED NATIONS / CAIRO / JERUSALEM — The United States on Wednesday vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that demanded an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza and unhindered aid access across the war-torn enclave. The other 14 countries . . . READ MORE . . .   Click HERE and HERE for report from AP and the Cradle.

.

For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, and Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, SYRIA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Russian strike kills 5 in Ukraine, including a 1-year-old, hours after Trump-Putin call, by Vasilisa Stepanenko | AP PRYLUKY, Ukraine — At least five people, including a 1-year-old child, his mother and grandmother, were killed today in a pre-dawn Russian drone attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Pryluky, officials said. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Damage, disruptions reported following explosion on train tracks in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, official claims, by Dmytro Basmat | The Kyiv Independent  An explosion on a rail line in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast today caused damage to the track and disrupted train travel along the line, regional Governor Alexander Gusev claimed. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Tass.

–   –   –

Russia strikes Ukrainian attack UAV workshops, launch sites over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian attack unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshops, storage and launch sites over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE. . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 4  Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia, by Olena Goncharova | The Kyiv Independent  Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday questioned the value of ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating deadly attacks on infrastructure in Russia that killed seven people and injured . . . READ MORE. . . .

–   –   –

FROM JUNE 4  Ukraine seeks air defense systems as Western backers meet without the Pentagon chief, by Lorne Cook | AP  BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenshyy on Wednesday urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defense systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production. He said emphasis should . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Highlights from the Black Sea Forum 2025, by Sergii Kostezh and Bohdan Nahaylo | Kyiv Post  Hundreds of participants gathered over the weekend for the second annual Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa’s crown jewel — the National Opera House — in defiance of  Russian missile threats. Attendees included . . . READ MORE . . .

.