For today, links to three reports: from Anadolu Ajansi, the Associated Press and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 12-5-25, and up or down for SYRIA, WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries.) — MCM

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Syrian president meets Lebanese prime minister, Qatar’s emir in Doha, by Mohammad Sıo | Anadolu  ISTANBUL — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, which kicked off today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 5  Lebanon tells a UN team the country will need a back-up force once peacekeepers’ term ends, by Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — The Lebanese prime minister told a visiting U.N. delegation on Friday that his country will need a follow-up force in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel to fill the vacuum once the U.N. peacekeepers’ term expires by the end of next year. Click HERE for report including locator map.

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FROM DEC. 5  Israel moves to extend army service to 36 months. From the Cradle. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Friday a plan to extend mandatory military service to 36 months — which would . . . READ MORE . . .

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