For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press; other reports or headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 3-9-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Syrian defence ministry says operation against Assad loyalists is over, by Jana Choukeir | Reuters  DUBAI — A Syrian military operation against loyalists of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad has been completed, the defence ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 9  Syria’s worst violence in months reopens wounds of the civil war, by Kareem Chehayeb | AP  An ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to ousted leader Bashar Assad escalated into clashes that a war monitor estimates have killed more than 1,000 people over four days. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 9  Syria’s interim leader Sharaa scrambles to contain deadliest violence in years. From Reuters. DAMASCUS — Syria’s leader on Sunday vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of violent clashes pitting loyalists of deposed President Bashar al-Assad against the country’s new Islamist rulers and said . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Cradle, National Public Radio, CNN, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles or headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-9-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Hamas showing ‘flexibility’ in Gaza ceasefire talks with Washington. From the Cradle.  A Hamas spokesman said today that the resistance movement is showing “flexibility” in ceasefire talks with mediators and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Adam Boehler. READ MORE . . .

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The latest on a possible new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Steve Inskeep | NPR  A new ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is likely in a matter of weeks, according to President Trump’s hostage affairs envoy, Adam Boehler. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from CNN.

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Hamas says Israel ‘continues to renege’ on Gaza truce deal. From AFP. Palestinian militant group Hamas accused Israel today of reneging on a ceasefire deal that halted the Gaza war, as Israeli negotiators were due in Qatar to discuss a potential extension. READ MORE . . .

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Israel urging UN agencies and aid groups to replace UNRWA. From Middle East Eye. Israel is attempting to encourage UN agencies and aid groups to take over the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 9  Israel cuts off electricity supply to Gaza, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water, by Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, officials said Sunday, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water for part of the arid territory. Hamas called it part of Israel’s “starvation policy.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 9  Hamas says talks with U.S. focused on release of American hostage in Gaza. From Reuters. CAIRO — Meetings between Hamas leaders and U.S. hostage negotiator Adam Boehler in recent days have focused on the release of an American-Israeli dual national being held by Hamas in Gaza, a senior Hamas official said on Sunday. READ MORE . . .

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What are genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity? by Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye  Israel and Hamas have been accused of serious international crimes as a result of . . . READ MORE . . . (MEE editor’s note: This is one of four explainers about international law. The series also includes separate pieces about war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.)

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U.S. brokering Israel’s breach of the Gaza ceasefire, by Motasem A Dalloul | Middle East Monitor  By the end of stage one of the three phase ceasefire deal, which halted the unprecedented livestreamed Israeli genocide in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his reduced cabinet and decided not to . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Tass, the Moscow Times, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, and Reuters, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; other articles or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, SYRIA and GAZA entries for this day are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 3-9 -25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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U.S. hasn’t stopped sharing defense-related intelligence with Ukraine, Trump’s envoy says, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  The U.S. has never stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine that is needed for defensive purposes, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said today. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Tass.

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Russia denies reports about new talks with U.S. in Saudi Arabia. From the Moscow Times. Russian and U.S. officials do not plan to meet in Saudi Arabia this week for a new round of diplomatic talks, the Kremlin said today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says reinforcing troops in Russia’s Kursk region. From AFP. Kyiv is reinforcing its troops involved in fighting in Russia’s region of Kursk, where Moscow’s forces have been regaining ground, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said today. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Trump advisers ‘sketching out’ how they might ease sanctions on Russia. From Kyiv Post. The advisers to US President Donald Trump are reportedly “sketching out” options to ease sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, one . . . READ MORE . . .

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MARCH 9  Russian forces take three new settlements in Kursk. From Reuters. MOSCOW: Russian forces on Sunday recaptured three more settlements in Russia’s western Kursk region, the Defence Ministry said, part of an operation to evict Ukrainian troops holding chunks of territory seven months after a cross-border incursion. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s ingenuity vis-à-vis Russia, Iran, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  Both Russian president Vladimir Putin and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian are quintessential nationalists and modernisers who are open to westernism. Both Russia and Iran face U.S. sanctions. Both seek . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For today, a link to commentary from the Cradle; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (IRAN, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON 3-8-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 6  The U.S. begins ‘normalization’ pressure on Syria, Lebanon, by Ghassan Jawad | The Cradle  The U.S. “Special Envoy to the Middle East” under President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, has expressed optimism about persuading Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, with suggestions that Syria and Lebanon could follow suit — both recently having . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible via their names or initials below. (LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll up or down. IRAN 3-8-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump revokes U.S. sanctions waiver for Iraqi energy imports from Iran. From the Cradle. President Donald Trump has revoked a US sanctions waiver allowing the Iraqi government to import electricity from Iran, a State Department spokesperson said on Saturday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 8  Iran’s Khamenei slams ‘bullying’ after Trump threats. From AFP. Tehran — Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday slammed what he described as bullying tactics a day after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Middle East Eye.

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Cradle, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from the Cradle; other reports or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 3-4-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 8  2 days of clashes and revenge killings in Syria leave more than 1,000 people dead, by Bassem Mroue and Sarah el Deeb | AP  BEIRUT — The death toll from two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad and revenge killings that followed has risen to more than 1,000, a war monitoring group said Saturday, making it one of the deadliest acts of violence since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, Anadolu Agency, and the Cradle, and HERE for March 9 report from Middle East Eye.

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FROM MARCH 8  Intensifying violence tests new Syrian government. Reported by Jane Arraf and Scott Detrow | NPR  In Syria, fighting is intensifying as clashes between Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to former President Bashar Assad have left hundreds of people dead. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 7  UK lifts sanctions on Syria’s de facto govt as civilian massacres continue. From the Cradle. The British government has lifted sanctions on 24 entities in Syria, including the country’s central bank, coming during a severe economic crisis and an indiscriminate government crackdown on the uprising launched this week . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 6  The U.S. begins ‘normalization’ pressure on Syria, Lebanon, by Ghassan Jawad | The Cradle  The U.S. “Special Envoy to the Middle East” under President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, has expressed optimism about persuading Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, with suggestions that Syria and Lebanon could follow suit — both recently having . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and the Cradle, and to commentary from Consortium News; other articles or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, IRAN, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 3-8-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 8  Israel, Hamas signal readiness for next ceasefire talks as mediators push for progress, by Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO / JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas signaled on Saturday they were preparing for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations, as mediators pushed ahead with talks to extend the fragile 42-day truce that began in January. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for AP report.

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FROM MARCH 7  Israel ‘sabotaging’ direct talks between Trump, Hamas officials: reports. From the Cradle. Israel has been attempting to obstruct recent talks held directly between Hamas officials and representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to reports in Hebrew media. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 8  Netanyahu’s refusal to end Gaza genocide killed over 40 Israeli captives: report. From the Cradle. Of the 251 Israeli soldiers and civilians taken captive by Hamas to Gaza on 7 October 2023, 41 have been killed, including many by Israeli bombing and friendly fire, according to an analysis by the New York Times published on Saturday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 7  Israeli hostages & the ceasefire, by Jonathan Cook | Consortium News  Those of us who keep banging on about Israel’s use of the so-called Hannibal directive on Oct. 7, 2023, — in which Israel killed its own citizens to stop them being taken captive by Hamas — have been smeared as excusing Hamas crimes that day. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links seven reports from Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, and Agence France-Presse, and to commentary from Consortium News via Popular Resistance; other articles or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON, IRAN, SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 3-8-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Russian special forces attack Ukrainian forces in Kursk via gas pipeline, bloggers say, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russian special forces crept miles through a major gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha in an attempt to surprise Ukrainian forces as part of a major offensive to eject Ukrainian soldiers from the western Russian region of Kursk, pro-Russian war bloggers said. READ MORE . . .

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Musk: If I turn off Starlink, Ukraine’s frontline would collapse. From Kyiv Post. Billionaire Elon Musk says his Starlink satellite system is critically important for the Ukrainian army and that if he were to shut it down, Ukraine’s front line would collapse. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Ukrainian drone reportedly attacks oil depot in Russia’s Chuvashia for first time, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil depot in Cheboksary in Russia’s Chuvashia Republic this morning, Governor Oleg Nikolaev reported. READ MORE . . .

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Air defenses eliminate 88 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defense systems downed 88 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight, the Defense Ministry said today in a statement. READ MORE . . .

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Australia says would consider joining peacekeeping in Ukraine. From AFP. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today his country would consider taking part in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine but stressed it was too early for any deployment. READ MORE . . .

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MARCH 6  Turkey ready to send troops to Ukraine if necessary, source says. From Reuters. ANKARA — Turkey, with the second largest army in NATO after the United States, could contribute to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 7  Negotiating lasting peace in Ukraine, by Jeffrey Sachs | Consortium News / Popular Resistance  There should be little doubt about how a lasting peace can be established in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Cradle and the Times of Israel; others may be accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN 3-7-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 7  Iran reaffirms ‘no nuclear talks’ with U.S. under maximum pressure sanctions. From the Cradle. Iran will maintain talks with other negotiators but will not engage with the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s approach of imposing new economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP on Friday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Times of Israel.  NOTE: Visitors to Times of Israel website who are not subscribers may be “rate limited,” or denied access after a certain number of visits.

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For today, links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, WEST BANK, SYRIA. GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  LEBANON 3-5-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 7  Hundreds of Israeli settlers pour into south Lebanon under army protection. From the Cradle. Hundreds of Israeli settlers crossed the border into Lebanese territory on Friday under the protection of the Israeli army in order to visit what they say is the tomb of a fourth-century rabbi. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 7  Israel’s new army chief declares 2025 ‘Year of War.’ From Middle East Monitor. The newly appointed Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has claimed that 2025 will be a “year of war” against Gaza and Iran, Israeli media outlets reported Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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