For today, links to four reports: from National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Pause in Israel-Hezbollah war may build momentum toward a ceasefire in Gaza. Rob Schmitz of NPR talks with Aaron David Miller at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about prospects for replicating the Israel-Hezbollah truce with one in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Click HERE to listen and read.

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With ceasefire in place, Lebanese displaced by war are returning home. Reported by Lauren Frayer and Rob Schmitz | NPR   Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese refugees are returning to the south of the country to see if their homes are still standing.. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM NOV. 27  The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire quiets one front but Gaza sees no end to war, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — For many across the Middle East, the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire came as a relief: the first major sign of progress in the region since war began more than a year ago. But for Palestinians in Gaza and families of hostages held in the territory . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 27  The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire is in effect in Lebanon. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon took effect – and appears to be holding. Israeli troops are still present in many towns in southern Lebanon. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to 12 reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Eye, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from ScheerPost, transcribed from an address at the University of California, Santa Barbara; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below or otherwise highlighted. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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As Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire begins, displaced Lebanese return home in packed cars. From AP. A ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah appeared to be holding as residents returned toward southern Lebanon, despite warnings from the Israeli and Lebanese military that they stay away from certain areas. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE reports from Reuters and NPR.

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Biden announced Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire — a significant Middle East development. Rob Schmitz of NPR talks with Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, about the U.S. role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon after months of fighting.. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Lebanon army says reinforcing presence in south. From AFP. Lebanon’s army said it began reinforcing its presence in south Lebanon today, after Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced a cabinet decision to bolster the force’s deployment following a Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire. READ MORE . . .

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Hezbollah MP says group cooperating with army on south Lebanon. From AFP. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said today his group was cooperating with the army’s deployment to southern Lebanon under the terms of a new truce with Israel, insisting “there will be no problem there.” READ MORE . . .

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A year ago this week Israel and Hamas agreed to a brief ceasefire in Gaza. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf, Scott Neuman and Michael Levitt | NPR  It’s been one year since Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were exchanged in a brief ceasefire negotiated in the Israel-Hamas war. We look at those released and the status of negotiations. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Lebanon deal shatters Netanyahu’s illusions of reshaping Middle East, Hamas says. From Middle East Eye. Hamas released a statement praising Hezbollah for supporting Gaza and welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which it said represented a significant blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ambitions to “reshape” the Middle East. READ MORE . . .

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UN rapporteurs call for ‘full compliance’ with Netanyahu, Gallant arrest warrants. From Middle East Monitor. UN rapporteurs and other experts called on Tuesday for “full compliance” with the warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 26  Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah set to take hold in a matter of hours. From AP. Israel has approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Just as the deal was announced, Israeli warplanes kept up . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and NPR.

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FROM NOV. 1  To kill a people, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost  Extermination works. At first. This is the terrible lesson of history. If Israel is not stopped — and no outside power appears willing to halt the genocide in Gaza or the destruction of Lebanon — it will achieve its goals of depopulating and annexing northern Gaza. It will turn southern Gaza . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to four reports: from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to commentary from Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Biden secretly requests $24 billion for Ukraine aid. From Kyiv Post. U.S. President Joe Biden has secretly requested an additional $24 billion from Congress to support Ukraine and replenish U.S. weapons stocks previously sent to Kyiv, according to documents reviewed by Politico. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s defense minister in Seoul – intel transfers a topic, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Kyiv and Seoul have agreed to share intelligence on North Korea’s troop deployments to Russia and the transfer of weapons and technology between Pyongyang and Moscow following Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov’s visit to Seoul on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 26  Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain, by Boldizsar Gyori | The Kyiv Independent  KUPIANSK — The city of Kupiansk lies at a critical junction between the Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast and the adjacent Kharkiv Oblast, which Ukraine largely liberated in autumn 2022. Now, residents . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Novaya Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Novaya Ilyinka in the Donetsk People’s Republic 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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FROM NOV. 26  Biden’s last hurrah against Russia and Putin, by Seymour M. Hersh | Substack  There is a scene early on in Nathanael West’s satirical 1933 novella Miss Lonelyhearts that reeks of depression, despair, and genius. It’s hard to forget. The protagonist is a lovelorn advice columnist for a newspaper in New York City who . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to reports from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date,, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Bezalel Smotrich says Israel can empty half of Gaza through ‘voluntary’ migration, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  Israel‘s far-right finance minister on Wednesday said Gaza could be emptied of half its population through “voluntary” migration within two years. Addressing a meeting of the Yesha Council, a committee overseeing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel bombards central Beirut as its leadership prepares to vote on ceasefire with Hezbollah, by Kareem Chehayeb | AP  BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes struck central Beirut and the city’s southern suburbs today, ahead of a planned vote by Israel’s leadership on whether to accept a U.S.-brokered ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .

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Efforts continue to reach a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Lebanon. Reported by Rob Schmitz and Lauren Frayer | NPR  Is a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah possible? Diplomats in Lebanon and Israel say a deal is close. Are the sticking points surmountable? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 25  A ceasefire deal could be close as Israel-Hezbollah violence continues. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Israeli airstrikes shook Southern Beirut Monday and Hezbollah has continued to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel. Amid this violence, there are some signals of a diplomatic deal in the works. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Arrest warrants from the Hague: The ICC, Netanyahu and Gallant, by Binoy Kampmark | Middle East Monitor  The slow, often grinding machinery of international law has just received a push along with the issuing of three arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court. They are for . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, and the Kyiv Indepedent, and to three-hour discussion from Consortium News, the first two and a half hours of which focus on the Ukraine war and its dangers; bios of the three guests’ names are highlighted below. Other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below.(GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia advances in Ukraine at fastest monthly pace since start of war, analysts say, by Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London over the past month, analysts and war bloggers say. The war is entering what . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says Russian attack sets a new record for the number of drones used, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Russia launched 188 drones against most regions of Ukraine in a nighttime blitz, the Ukrainian air force said today, describing it as a record number of drones deployed in a single attack and saying most were intercepted. READ MORE . . .

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Russian military vows retaliation after Ukraine launches new ATACMS strikes on Kursk Region. From AFP. Russia’s military today vowed to respond to new Ukrainian airstrikes against Russian territory allegedly carried out with U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, coming a week after the White House gave Kyiv permission to use the weapons on targets inside Russia. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Russian military replaces senior commander in eastern Ukraine – RBC. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s military has replaced the commander of one of its six operational groups fighting in Ukraine, as part of a “planned rotation,” the RBC news website reported today, citing anonymous sources. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutique, by Kollen Post | The Kyiv Independent  Over the past year, Buntar has armed itself with nearly $3 million in investment from Ukraine, the EU, and the U.S. and is building . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 24  ‘Escalation.’ Joe Lauria and Elizabeth Vos of Consortium News talk with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, ex-UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter and MIT professor emeritus Ted Postol about, among other things, the possibility of nuclear war between Russia and the West. Click HERE to watch and listen.

 

For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, Middle East Monitor, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Rainstorms flood tents of Gaza’s displaced as Israel steps up strikes, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Mohammed Salem | Reuters  Heavy rain flooded tent encampments of displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip today, adding seasonal winter misery to communities already devastated by 13 months of war, as Israeli forces stepped up strikes in the enclave. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli cabinet to meet Tuesday to approve Lebanon ceasefire deal, by Maayan Lubell and Laila Bassam | Reuters  JERUSALEM — The Israeli cabinet will convene on Tuesday to approve a Lebanon ceasefire deal, a senior Israeli official told Reuters today. Another Israeli official . . . READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu threatens Palestinians in Gaza with life, or death and destruction. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his offer to the residents of the Gaza Strip of a financial reward to anyone who reveals information about the whereabouts of the hostages in Gaza and helps to free them. He also . . . READ MORE . . .

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Here’s where ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been stuck, by Abby Sewell and Tia Goldenberg | AP  BEIRUT — Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks to end the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. READ MORE . . .

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Israel turned Jabalia into a barren desert and made our home a grave, by Hamza Salha | Middle East Eye  It was in Jabalia that my father dedicated years of hard work to build a 200 sqm apartment for me — a symbol of hope and stability for my future family. Every tile and ornament was chosen with love, a testament to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 18  Moral suicide, by Michael Brenner | ScheerPost  Europe has an obsession about Jews. For nearly 2 millennia, it shunned them, despised them and persecuted them. Now, after a respite of a few decades, it condemns and abuses Muslims in a similar way — all in the name . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from Reuters, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, and the Associated Press, and to remarks from a discussion at the Cambridge Union, via ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russian drones, missiles attack Ukraine’s east, south and capital. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian missiles damaged residential buildings in Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv and Odesa in the south, and a blizzard of drones caused temporary power cuts in Mykolaiv region and targeted the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s Kaluga region target oil depot, sanctioned defense plant. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drone strikes in central Russia’s Kaluga region sparked a fire at an industrial site, regional authorities said early today, with Ukrainian sources claiming the targets included a defense plant and an oil depot. READ MORE . . .

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Russia claims Ukraine fired 8 ballistic missiles, likely ATACMS again. From Kyiv Post. Russia announced today that its air defense systems intercepted and shot down eight ballistic missiles fired by Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Russian missile attack on central Kharkiv injures 23, by Martin Fornusek, Boldizsar Gyori and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Russia launched an attack against the central part of Kharkiv this morning, injuring at least 23 people, officials reported. READ MORE . . .

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British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — James Scott Rhys Anderson, a military instructor from Britain, was captured in the Kursk area, according to a source in the security services. Other war-related . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE to a report from AP.

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FROM NOV. 21  The Russia-Ukraine war explained, by Jeffrey Sachs | Columbia University / The Cambridge Union / ScheerPost  Let me just explain in two minutes, the Ukraine war. This is not an attack by [Vladimir] Putin on Ukraine in the way that we are told every day. This started in 1990, Feb, 9, 1990. Click HERE for transcript, and video of the author’s response to a question.

 

 For tody, links to eight reports: from Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press, National Public Radio and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor and Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli army orders Gaza City suburb evacuated, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO —The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders to residents in areas of an eastern Gaza City suburb, Shijaia, setting off a new wave of displacement today, and a Gaza hospital director was injured in an Israeli drone attack, Palestinian medics said. READ MORE . . .

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Heavy rains add to plight of displaced civilians in Gaza amid Israeli war, by Mohamed Majed | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine — Heavy rains have worsened the plight of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid a deadly Israeli war on the enclave, the Civil Defense Service said today. READ MORE . . .

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Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza, by Sam McNeil | AP  UMM AL-FAHM, Israel — Israel’s yearlong crackdown against Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza is prompting many to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society, while some still find ways to dissent — carefully. READ MORE . . .

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As Israel cuts ties with UNRWA, Palestinian refugees could lose vital services. Reported by Scott Neuman | NPR  Israel has voted to end cooperation with UNRWA, the United Nations agency providing aid to Palestinian refugees. The move threatens key services for hundreds of thousands of refugees in the West Bank.. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hezbollah fires more than 180 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding at least 7, by Kareem Chehayeb and Tia Goldenberg | AP  BEIRUT — Hezbollah fired at least 185 rockets and other projectiles into Israel today, wounding seven people in the militant group’s heaviest barrage in several days, in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut. And an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center killed one soldier and wounded 18 others . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli drones kill 2 paramedics, injure 4 in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, by Wassim Seifeddine | Anadolu Agency  BEIRUT — Israeli drones chased paramedics Saturday in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, killing two and injuring four others. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli strike targets the heart of Beirut, killing 20 people, by Lauren Frayer | NPR  There was a rare airstrike in the heart of Lebanon’s capital Saturday. Israeli media say it was targeting a Hezbollah leader. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Netanyahu brushed off concerns over Hamas ahead of Gaza war, report says. From Middle East Eye.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly rejected proposals to assassinate Hamas leaders, including during a meeting six days before the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s criminal responsibility is shielded by political complicity, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  It remains to be seen how world leaders of the 124 states that are party to the Rome Statute will comply with the international arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 21  Israel: Beginning of the end, by Stefan Moore |  Special to Consortium News  Contrary to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bellicose July 24 speech before a joint session of the United States Congress pledging to achieve “total victory” over Hamas, Israel is being decisively defeated – militarily, economically and as a society. READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to eleven reports: from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Sky News, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, Reuters, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia is using its new technology in its attacks on Ukraine. Reported by Charles Maynes and Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  Attacks between Ukraine and Russia are escalating, with Russia using what it describes as new missile technology. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE for reports from AP and Sky News.

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Ukraine shows fragments of new Russian missile after ‘Oreshnik’ strike. From AFP. Ukraine today showed journalists fragments of the Russian missile used to strike the city of Dnipro last week, after Moscow said it had tested its new Oreshnik ballistic missile. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine needs better air defences, Zelenskiy says after Russian drone attack. From Reuters. KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defences to protect people after its air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched overnight over many regions. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 23  Putin signs law forgiving debt arrears for new Russian recruits for Ukraine war. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Saturday on debt forgiveness for new army recruits signing up to fight in Ukraine, a Russian government website showed. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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Ukraine military says it destroyed Russian S-400 system in Kursk. From Kyiv Post.  The Armed Forces of Ukraine said today they had struck an advanced air-defense system in the Kursk region in an overnight attack Saturday and today. READ MORE . . .

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Russia attacked Ukraine with over 800 KAB bombs, 460 drones, 20 missiles this week, Zelensky says, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Over the past week, Russia launched over 800 KAB-guided aerial bombs, nearly 460 attack drones, and more than 20 missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 23  After an eventful week, what’s the latest in Ukraine? Scott Detrow of NPR talks with Oliver Carroll, Kyiv correspondent for The Economist. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM NOV. 22  Washington has ‘understood’ Putin’s warning after hypersonic missile strike, Kremlin says. From AFP. The Kremlin said Friday it was confident that the U.S. had grasped the implications of President Vladimir Putin’s warning following Russia’s missile strike on Ukraine with a weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads. READ MORE . . .