For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down. GAZA 2-17-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Hamas says it will free 6 living hostages and hand over four bodies, accelerating Gaza release, by Samy Magdy and Natalie Melzer | AP   CAIRO — A top Hamas leader says the militant group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and the bodies of four others on Thursday, a surprise increase that apparently comes in return for Israel allowing mobile homes and construction equipment into the devastated Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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Arab Summit on Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan in Gaza postponed to Friday. From Middle East Monitor. A mini-Arab summit scheduled for Thursday to discuss the response to US President Donald Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan in Gaza has been postponed to Friday, two Arab diplomats said on Monday. A source said the summit has been extended to include . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports, followed by a map: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Cradle, and ezilon.com; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (IRAN, GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  LEBANON 2-17-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Villagers in southern Lebanon begin to return home as Israeli army withdraws under ceasefire deal, by Bassem Mroue | AP  KFAR KILA, Lebanon — Israeli forces withdrew today from border villages in southern Lebanon under a deadline spelled out in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, but stayed in five strategic overlook locations inside Lebanon. Top Lebanese leaders . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israel says its army to stay in ‘buffer zone’ in Lebanon, by Abdelraouf Arnaout | Anadolu Agency  JERUSALEM — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today that the army will stay in five points in southern Lebanon, calling them a “buffer zone” to protect Israeli settlements against Hezbollah attacks. READ MORE . . .

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Israel maintains occupation in five key areas after withdrawal from south Lebanon. From the Cradle. The Israeli army has maintained its occupation of at least five key locations in southern Lebanon after completing the withdrawal of most of its troops from the south early today. Israeli forces continue to occupy . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 17  Israel changes tune, says ‘ready to leave’ Lebanon by ceasefire deadline: report. From the Cradle. Israel is planning to withdraw its occupation forces from southern Lebanon by the approaching deadline, an Israeli official told Times of Israel on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle, National Public Radio, and Reuters, followed by a map from WorldAtlas.com; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (IRAN, GAZA, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down; a regional map from AP is HERE, at least for now. SYRIA 2-10-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 17  Iran ‘in contact’ with new authorities in Syria: Tehran. From the Cradle. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman reaffirmed during a press conference on Monday that Tehran is in contact with the new authorities in Syria. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 17  Moscow in talks to maintain ‘reduced military presence’ inside Syria. From the Cradle. Russia seeks to keep a reduced military presence in Syria, a key objective for President Vladimir Putin after the ousting of his previous ally, former president Bashar al-Assad, Bloomberg reported on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 17  After decades of surveillance, Syrians are cautiously testing out free expression. Reported by Emily Feng | NPR  A rebel coalition overthrew a repressive regime in Syria last December. Syrians are cautiously testing out the newly expanded boundaries for free expression. But fresh constraints are emerging. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 4  Syria’s Sharaa to discuss defense pact with Turkey’s Erdogan, sources say. From Reuters. AMMAN / BEIRUT / DAMASCUS — Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan were expected to discuss a joint defense pact in Ankara today, including . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, the Anadolu Agency, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio, followed by a map from worldometers.info; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (IRAN, GAZA, LEBANON and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 2-17-25 entry is HERE, or click down.) — MCM

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Russia and the U.S. agree to work towards improving ties and ending the Ukraine war in landmark talks, by Matthew Lee and Dasha Litvinova | AP  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Russia and the U.S. agreed today to start working towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties, America’s top diplomat said after talks that reflected . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from the Anadolu Agency, Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia says NATO must disavow 2008 membership promise to Ukraine, by Dmitry Antonov and Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russia wants NATO to disavow its 2008 promise to one day give Ukraine membership of the U.S.-led military alliance, and for Ukraine to agree to neutrality, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine expects ‘security guarantees from U.S., EU, Türkiye’: Zelenskyy, by Gokhan Celiker, Gizem Nisa Cebi, Can Efesoy and Sumeyye Dilara Dincer | Anadolu Agency  ANKARA / ISTANBUL — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today underscored the importance of his country’s territorial integrity and reiterated Ukraine’s demand for security guarantees during an official visit to Türkiye. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Yampolovka community in Donbass region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the settlement of Yampolovka in the Donbass region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 17  Zelenskyy looks to get a seat at the table for U.S. and Russia’s Ukraine peace talks. Reported by Joanna Kakissis, Charles Maynes and Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  In the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he’s in the region for official visits focused on humanitarian and economic issues. He said Ukraine did not know about the Russia-U.S. meeting. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to three reports: from Middle East Monitor and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON, IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK 2-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli settlers attack shepherds, homes south of Hebron. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli settlers on Sunday attacked Palestinian shepherds and homes in the northern area of Al-Buwaib village, northeast of Yatta, in the occupied West Bank, Safa reported. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 14  Israel plans to ‘destroy’ Jenin camp, continue military siege indefinitely’: report. From the Cradle. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported Friday that Israel plans to continue military operations in Jenin “indefinitely” to destroy the refugee camp in the city and prevent  . . . READ MORE . . .

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Forced displacement of Palestinians from occupied West Bank ‘largest since 1967’: NYT. From the Cradle. The mass displacement carried out by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank is the largest since 1967, according to experts cited by the New York Times today. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to three reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  LEBANON 2-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel kills Hamas official in southern Lebanon. From Reuters. BEIRUT — The Israeli military today killed a Hamas leader in southern Lebanon’s Sidon area, it said in a statement that described Muhammad Shaheen as the head of the Hamas operations department in Lebanon and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli official says forces will remain in 5 locations in Lebanon after Tuesday’s pullout deadline, by Melanie Lidman and Sally Abou Aljoud | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon near the border after Tuesday’s deadline for their full withdrawal, an Israeli official said today. READ MORE . . . 

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Middle East, meets with Israel’s Netanyahu. Reported by Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  Marco Rubio is in the Middle East for his first visit to the region as secretary of state. His first stop was Israel. Click HERE to listen and,, later, read.

For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll up or down. IRAN 2-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Iran says Israel, U.S. ‘cannot do a damn thing’ against Tehran. From Reuters. Iran claims U.S. and Israeli threats against it are a blatant violation of international law and boasts that they cannot “do a damn thing” to hurt Tehran — this after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 11  Leaked documents expose U.S. interference projects in Iran, by Kit Klarenberg | The Cradle  A bombshell leak reviewed by The Cradle exposes the depths of Washington’s long-running campaign to destabilize the Islamic Republic. For years, the U.S. State Department’s Near East Regional Democracy fund . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, IRAN, and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Gazans must return home, EU plans to tell Israel, by Lili Bayer | Reuters  BRUSSELS — The EU plans to tell Israel next week that Palestinians uprooted from their Gaza homes should be ensured a dignified return and that Europe will contribute to rebuilding the shattered territory, according to a document seen by Reuters. READ MORE . . .

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Middle East, meets with Israel’s Netanyahu. Reported by Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  Marco Rubio is in the Middle East for his first visit to the region as secretary of state. His first stop was Israel. Click HERE to listen and,, later, read.

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Gaza transfer plan: The banality of ethnic cleansing, by Ahmad Tibi | Middle East Eye  Widespread support for the idea of transferring the population of Gaza to other countries, alongside the notion that “there are no innocent people” in the Palestinian enclave, constitute . . . READ MORE . . .

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Displacement is a distraction from the Zionist genocide in Gaza, by Amira Abo el-Fetouh | Middle East Monitor  The displacement of the Palestinians from Gaza and Donald Trump’s diabolical plan to take “ownership” of the Gaza Strip is a calculated manipulation that depends on creating an imaginary reality so that . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to 10 reports: from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, National Public Radio, Reuters, and the Kyiv Independent, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, IRAN and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 2-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM   

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Ukrainian drones hit major pipeline in southern Russia, disrupting oil supplies. From AFP. Ukrainian drones struck a key pumping station on a major international pipeline in southern Russia, disrupting oil supplies from Kazakhstan, the pipeline operator said today. In the overnight attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Lavrov rules out territorial concessions as part of Ukraine peace talks. From the Kyiv Independent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today there could be “no thought of” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky vows not to recognize any Russia-U.S. agreements in Saudi talks. From Kyiv Post. As Russian and American delegations prepare to meet in Saudi Arabia’s capital to discuss a settlement to the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that Ukraine was neither informed nor invited to the negotiating table. And . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Lavrov says no point in inviting European leaders to Ukraine talks. From AFP.  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today he saw no reason for European leaders to take part in negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine and accused Brussels of wanting to prolong the conflict. READ MORE . . .

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European leaders to meet about emerging transatlantic rift over security, Ukraine. Report by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  PARIS — European leaders have called an emergency meeting in Paris Monday after the Trump administration has cut Europe out of negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. The growing chasm . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia after U.S.-Russia talks. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, one day after a meeting there between top Russian and U.S. officials, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian leader said. READ MORE . . .

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UK offers peacekeeping troops to Ukraine ahead of Paris talks. From Reuters. LONDON / PARIS — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has become the first European leader to say he is ready to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, making the commitment ahead of an emergency leaders’ meeting in Paris to discuss . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Russians hopeful but skeptical on Ukraine peace talks, by Anastasia Tenisheva | The Moscow Times  When Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to enter peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials and state propaganda trumpeted what it called a victory for Moscow. But . . . READ MORE . . .–   

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FROM FEB. 16  Ukraine’s former foreign minister on the looming peace talks. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Dmytro Kuleba, who spent two and a half years as Ukraine’s wartime foreign minister, talks about Ukraine’s prospects for a fair peace agreement on a war started by Russia and how the Trump administration presents both risks and opportunities.  Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 16  Spring is in the air in U.S.-Russia ties as Trump’s revolution gains momentum, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline | What emerges from the dramatic happenings of the past week is that the 3-year chronicle of U.S.-Russia rivalry and the NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine was . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, CNN. and the Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. IRAN 2-7-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Netanyahu says “we can finish the job” against Iran after meeting Rubio, by James Mackenzie and Menna Alaa El-Din | Reuters   JERUSALEM / CAIRO — Israel and the United States are determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its “aggression” in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from CNN with video.

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Israel receives shipment of heavy bombs cleared by Trump. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israel has received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump lifted a block imposed on the export of the munitions by the administration of predecessor Joe Biden, the defence ministry said today. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.