For today, links to seven reports: from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, the Cradle, and the Anadolu Agency, and to commentary from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; other articles or just headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. SYRIA 2-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.)— MCM

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Syria says 16 security personnel killed in clashes near Damascus. From AFP. Syria’s interior ministry said today that 16 security personnel had been killed in clashes that erupted overnight near Damascus, a day after deadly sectarian violence elsewhere near the capital. The ministry said “outlaw groups” attacked . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel says it carried out warning strike in defence of Druze in Syria. From Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, that the Israeli army carried out a warning strike against “extremists” who were preparing to attack the Druze community in the Syrian town of Sahnaya. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Cradle and Anadolu Agency.

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FROM APRIL 29  Syrian govt forces move to take control of strategic Tishreen Dam. From the Cradle. Syrian army forces deployed near the Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo province on Tuesday, signaling a potential transfer of control from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to the Syrian government. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 29  Iraqi MP files lawsuit against Syrian president over ‘terrorist’ past. From the Cradle. Iraqi Member of Parliament Alaa al-Haidari has filed a lawsuit with the Iraqi Public Prosecution against the new Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, Shafaq News reported on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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Minutes to leave: Syria’s Alawites evicted from private homes at gunpoint, by Amina Ismail | Reuters  Syria’s minority Alawites are an offshoot of the Shi’ite faith and the sect of former strongman Bashar al-Assad. Since Syria’s current president, Ahmed al-Sharaa seized power in December . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hell freezeth over as Sharaa gets invited to Baghdad, by Rasool Majeed | The Cradle  Syrian interim President Ahmad Sharaa’s return to Iraq — once unimaginable following his departure in 2011 — now seems possible with Iraq set to host the Arab summit on May 17. But whether Sharaa will attend . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 29  Israel wants nothing less than the end of Syria. It will fail, by Soumaya Ghannoushi | Middle East Eye  On Tuesday, a chilling declaration echoed from Tel Aviv. Speaking to a gathering of supporters, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich proclaimed: “The fighting will not end until hundreds of thousands of Gazans leave . . . and Syria is partitioned.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. GAZA 2-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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At least 12 killed overnight by Israeli strikes in Gaza. From AP. At least 12 people including children were killed overnight in Gaza by Israeli strikes, hospital workers said today. READ MORE . . .

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U.S. tells ICJ that law allows Israel to attack UN agencies that aren’t ‘impartial,‘ by Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye  THE HAGUE, Netherlands  A U.S. official addressing the International Court of Justice today defended Israel’s attacks on United Nations agencies in Gaza as potentially lawful, as Israel’s full ban on humanitarian aid to the enclave nears two months. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Reuters.

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Saudi Arabia tells ICJ Israel considers itself above all laws. From Middle East Monitor. A representative of Saudi Arabia told the International Court of Justice on Tuesday that Israel considers itself above all laws and refuses to comply with the court’s advisory opinion on halting its aggression against the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 29  Hamas, Israel deny reports of ‘breakthrough’ in Gaza ceasefire talks. From the Cradle. Reports of a breakthrough in the Gaza ceasefire talks are “inaccurate,” Israeli official were cited as saying on Monday and Tuesday in media reports, and a Hamas official confirmed . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 29  Gaza’s hungry and malnourished kids suffer under Israeli blockade. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba | NPR  Israel has blocked vital supplies from entering Gaza for two months now. Children in Gaza are malnourished and dying as the UN runs out of food. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, Kyiv Post, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. UKRAINE 4-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.)— MCM

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Kremlin says a deal to end the war with Ukraine can’t be achieved quickly, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Clinching a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war “is far too complex to be done quickly,” a senior Kremlin official said today. Meanwhile, officials said a nighttime Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv wounded . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Reuters and the Moscow Times.

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Russian troops liberate Novoye community in Donetsk region over past day — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Novoye in the Donetsk region 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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SBU drones hit key Russian military plant in overnight attack. From Kyiv Post. Drones from Ukraine’s Security Service hit the Murom Instrument-Making Plant, a critical facility supporting the Russian military, an SBU source said. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine ready to sign U.S. minerals deal today, source in President’s Office confirms, by Tim Zadorozhnyy and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine is ready to sign the long-anticipated minerals agreement with the U.S., which could happen as early as today, a source in the President’s Office said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Tass.

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For today, links to eight reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 4-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down. GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Over a dozen killed in sectarian clashes in Jaramana, near Damascus. From Reuters. More than a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital today in clashes sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen, rescuers and security sources said. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and the Cradle, and HERE for March 10 AP report.

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FROM APRIL 27  Syrian president condemns Kurdish calls for federalism. From the Cradle, The office of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned recent Kurdish calls for federalism in Syria, saying they contradict an agreement reached between Damascus and authorities from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the country’s autonomous northeast. Sharaa’s office issued a statement . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 28  Saudi Arabia, Qatar pledge $15m to eliminate Syria’s World Bank debt. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced that they will pay Syria’s $15 million debt to the World Bank, allowing the international lender to resume its activities in the country after an interruption of more than 14 years. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 28  UAE detains Syrian Defense Ministry official at Dubai airport.  From the Cradle. Issam al-Buwaydani, a Syrian Defense Ministry official and head of the extremist Jaish al-Islam organization, was recently arrested by Emirati officials at Dubai International Airport. Two sources told . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 22  With Assad gone and Syria’s war over, the White Helmets have a new mission. Reported by Lauren Frayer and Jawad Rizkallah | NPR  DAMASCUS — Founded in 2013, the White Helmets began as volunteers based mostly in rebel-held areas, and gained international fame for running into harm’s way to rescue civilians. Click HERE to listen and read. 

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For today, links to three reports: from Reuters and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 4-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Short of supplies, Gaza’s vital community kitchens may soon shut, halt free meals, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Olivia Le Poidevin and Ramadan Abed | Reuters  CAIRO / GENEVA / GAZA — Gaza’s community kitchens, which are lifelines for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians after 18 months of war, may soon have no more meals to provide and risk closing down, potentially within days . . . READ MORE . . .

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Gaza’s families left to starve under Israeli aid shutdown, by Maha Hussaini | Middle East Eye  GAZA CITY, occupied Palestine Since Israel sealed Gaza’s boundaries in early March, at least 95 percent of UN and international aid agencies have halted distributions after their warehouses ran dry. Aid had become . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 28  Unrwa ban: Why the World Court is hearing another case against Israel, by Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The International Court of Justice began hearings on Monday into Israel’s humanitarian obligations in occupied Palestine and attacks on UN agencies. Since March, Israel has blocked all aid from reaching Gaza . . . Click HERE to read, and for video of two Palestinian representatives speaking outside the court.

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Advisory opinions will not stop genocide, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  Legal recourse becomes absurd when the need is to stop genocide as a matter of great urgency. In December 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice about Israel’s obligations in Gaza to ensure delivery of essential humanitarian aid . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to six reports: from the Moscow Times, Reuters, the Associated Press, Tass, Kyiv Post, and the Kyiv Independent; others or headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 4-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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NEWER  Kremlin rebuffs Zelensky’s ceasefire proposal, says ‘nuances’ remain unresolved. From the Moscow Times. The Kremlin today dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for a 30-day ceasefire, saying “nuances” raised earlier by Russia’s Vladimir Putin remain unresolved. Zelensky criticized Putin’s unilateral announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says it’s waiting for Ukraine’s response to May ceasefire and offer of direct talks. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The Kremlin said today that Ukraine had not responded to many offers by Russia President Vladimir Putin to start direct peace negotiations, and that it was unclear whether it would join a three-day ceasefire he announced Monday for next month. READ MORE . . .

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If Trump abandons Ukraine, can Europe help Kyiv fight on? by Emma Burrows | AP  LONDON — President Donald Trump is pushing Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the war, threatening to walk away if a deal becomes too difficult — and causing alarm bells in Europe about how to fill the gap. Ukraine’s European allies view . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Doroshovka community in Kharkov Region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Doroshovka in the Kharkov Region 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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Ukraine confirms elimination of top Russian general near Moscow, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian intelligence services have eliminated Russian Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, who served as Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, Secretary of the National Security Committee Roman Kostenko said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for earlier report from the Kyiv Independent.

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For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Agence France-Presse; others or headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (YEMEN 4-23-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Suspected U.S. airstrike hits Yemen migrant centre; Houthi TV says 68 killed, by Mohammed Ghobari and Nayera Abdallah | Reuters. ADEN / DUBAI — Corpses covered in dust and debris were scattered in the wreckage of a detention centre for African migrants in Yemen, after what Houthi-controlled television described today as a U.S. airstrike that killed 68 people. It was one of the deadliest attacks . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and the Cradle.

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Iran calls deadly U.S. strikes on Yemen a ‘war crime.’ From AFP. Iran today condemned U.S. strikes on Yemen that Huthi rebels said hit a migrant detention centre in the Tehran-backed rebel group’s stronghold of Saada, killing at least 68 people. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Cradle and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN 4-27-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Satellite images reveal destruction after Iran port explosion kills at least 46, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — Satellite images show the devastation of an explosion that rocked one of Iran’s main ports as the death toll rose to 46 people with over 1,000 injured. The blast Saturday disintegrated a building next to the blast site, which appeared to be in a row where other containers once stood . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for later report from Reuters.

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Iran vows to probe ‘mistakes’ leading to deadly port explosion. From the Cradle. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said on 28 April that “mistakes” have been identified and individuals have been “summoned” in relation to the deadly blast that took place at Shahid Rajaee part of the Bandar Abbas Port two days ago. READ MORE . . .

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Iran port explosion that killed at least 40 raises questions. Steve Inskeep of NPR speaks with Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, about the geopolitical ramifications of Saturday’s port explosion in Iran that killed at least 40 people. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 4-27-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

Palestinian envoy tells UN court Israel is killing Gaza civilians. Israel says it’s being persecuted, by Molly Quell and Mike Corder | AP  THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Palestinian diplomat told the United Nations’ top court today that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and targeting aid workers in Gaza, in a case that Israel criticized as part of its “systematic persecution and delegitimization.” Israel denies . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and Reuters, and HERE for live coverage of proceedings from Middle East Eye.

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Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 27 Palestinians, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight into Monday killed at least 27 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month. It has . . . READ MORE . . .

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The U.N. World Food Programme says it has run out of food in Gaza. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba | NPR  Hundreds of thousands of people depend on the U.N. agency for food. It’s been eight weeks since Israel blocked aid. The U.N. has run out of supplies for charity kitchens as aid sits across the border. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Israel will maintain military control over Gaza, Netanyahu says. From Middle East Eye. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel will maintain military control over Gaza and would bar the Palestinian Authority from governing the territory. “Hamas will not be there,” he said. “We’re not . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to 10 reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 4-27-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, IRAN and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russia declares a ceasefire in Ukraine on May 8-10 for WWII Victory Day, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — The Kremlin today declared a full ceasefire in Ukraine on May 8-10 as Russia celebrates the Victory Day over Nazi Germany. The truce will start at 0000 on May 8 (2100 GMT May 7) and last through May 10. The Kremlin said . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine says wants immediate truce, asks, ‘Why wait?’ From AFP. Ukraine said today it wanted an immediate truce with Russia for “at least 30 days”, asking why Moscow would delay a three-day pause in hostilities to May. “If Russia truly wants peace,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X . . . READ MORE . . .

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Trump wants permanent, not temporary, ceasefire in Ukraine: spokeswoman. From AFP. U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said today, indicating that he did not see Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s three-day pause as satisfactory. READ MORE . . .

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Russia demands Ukraine recognize territorial claims in peace talks. From the Moscow Times. Russian authorities said today that Moscow is ready to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine but insisted that recognition of its claims over five Ukrainian regions, including the Crimean peninsula, was “imperative” to ending the war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Tass.

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Russia says signal for start of direct peace talks should come from Ukraine. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia said today it was waiting for a signal from Ukraine to say it was willing to hold direct negotiations to end their war, but had not seen any signs of movement. The Kremlin said on Friday that . . . READ MORE . . .

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NATO chief calls for more defense spending from Europe and Canada. Reported by Carla Esteves and Michel Martin | NPR  In Washington Friday for meetings with President Trump and other top officials in advance of a NATO summit in The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said . . . Click HERE to read and listen.

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FROM APRIL 27  Trump’s diplomacy gains traction, silences sceptics, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The U.S. President Donald Trump is a lone ranger in international arena and a self-confessed practitioner of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absolute maxim that ours is not an era of wars no matter the ‘casus belli’. He sets a high . . . READ MORE . . .

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