Links to NINE reports: from the Cradle, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (Scroll down for LEBANON 4-14-26. Scroll up or down for today’s SUDAN, IRAN and MEDIA so far.) — MCM
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Hezbollah inflicts heavy losses on Israeli army during Bint Jbeil battles. From the Cradle. Hezbollah resistance fighters are fiercely confronting the Israeli military’s attempts to capture the strategic southern city of Bint Jbeil, inflicting heavy losses on invading troops, Hebrew media reports have confirmed. READ MORE . . .
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3 wars, 1 region: A look at the peace talks. Reported by Daniel Estrin and A Martínez | NPR Negotiations are happening between countries involved in three separate wars in the Middle East. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Former U.S. ambassador on talks between Israel and Lebanon. Reported by Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, about this week’s Israel-Lebanon talks in the United States. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM APRIL 14 Lebanon and Israel hold first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington, by Kareem Chehayeb and Matthew Lee | AP WASHINGTON — Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a “historic opportunity” but making clear that no breakthrough agreement would happen right away. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from NPR.
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FROM APRIL 14. Hezbollah chief urges Beirut to reverse course ahead of talks with Israel. From the Cradle. Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem made a speech on Monday, accusing the Lebanese government of “weakness” and rejecting the direct negotiations planned between Beirut and Tel Aviv in Washington. READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 14 Hezbollah says it launched drones at Israeli military in occupied Golan Heights. From Middle East Eye. The group said in a statement it targeted an artillery position in Za-oura and battalion command headquarters in Odem on Tuesday, using a “squadron of drones.” READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 14 Israel plans to create buffer zones in Lebanon and Gaza to protect its territory. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR Israel is creating a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon for a prolonged military occupation, with low expectations that direct talks with Lebanon will lead to quick action on disarming Hezbollah. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM APRIL 14 Humanitarian access to southern Lebanon severely restricted, markets have collapsed. From Middle East Monitor. Nearly 63% of planned humanitarian convoys to southern Lebanon have not been completed due to negative or absent responses to deconfliction requests, a senior UN official said Tuesday, warning that aid delivery is severely hampered by escalating violence, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .
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