For today, links to 12 reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, and the Moscow Times, and to commentary from Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA, IRAN, LEBANON, GAZA and WEST BANK entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 2-18-25 entry including map is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump is living in a Russian-made ‘disinformation space,’ says Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, by Justin Spike and Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today U.S. President Donald Trump is living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” as a result of his administration’s discussions with Kremlin officials — and said he “would . . . READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Zelenskiy on U.S. minerals deal: ‘I can’t sell Ukraine.’ From Reuters. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected US demands for billions in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying America had supplied nowhere near that sum sought and offered no specific security guarantees in the agreement. READ MORE . . .

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U.S. Ukraine envoy Kellogg arrives in Kyiv ahead of talks with Zelensky. From AFP. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine arrived in Kyiv today ahead of a planned meeting with officials and President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian media reported. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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FROM FEB. 18  Russia and U.S. agree to work toward ending Ukraine war in a remarkable diplomatic shift, by Matthew Lee and Dasha Litvinova | AP  RIYADH — Russia and the U.S. agreed Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties, the two countries’ top diplomats said after talks that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for second AP report, and reports from Reuters and NPR.

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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What have U.S. sanctions on Russia achieved since the war in Ukraine began? Michel Martin of NPR talks with Edward Fishman, author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. What have U.S. sanctions achieved? Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for analysis via the Moscow Times.

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Major risks loom as Trump upends U.S. Russia policy, by Matt Spetalnick | Reuters  WASHINGTON — When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, then-U.S. President Joe Biden took a firm stand in solidarity with Kyiv, forged a bulwark of European allies and set veteran advisers to isolating Moscow economically and . . . READ MORE . . .

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For todya, a link to a report from the Cradle, and a map from worldometers.info; others are accessible by clicking on their names as highlighted. (GAZA, LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down. IRAN 2-17- 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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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 . . .