For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (SYRIA, WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down. IRAN 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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IRGC chief vows ‘devastating response’ to any US, Israeli attack on Iran. From the Cradle. The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami, vowed on Sunday that any attack on the Islamic Republic would be met with a “devastating” response. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, WEST BANK, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  SYRIA 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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HTS-led Syrian forces clash with Lebanese army on border. From the Cradle. Intense clashes erupted on the Syrian–Lebanese border late on Sunday after Syrian military forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham carried out heavy shelling and launched rockets on Lebanese border towns. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP.

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Syria’s new rulers face likely aid drop at EU conference, by Amina Ismail | Reuters  BRUSSELS — The interim government in Damascus were to take part today in a conference to gather aid pledges for Syria, facing the prospect of diminishing assistance as it struggles with humanitarian and security problems after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 16  Families of Syrians who disappeared during its civil war say the search must go on, by Kareem Chehayeb and Ghaith Alsayed | AP  DARAA, Syria — Family members of the estimated 130,000 Syrians who disappeared in the country’s 14-year civil war gathered here on Sunday to urge the newly installed interim government to not give up on efforts to find them. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Middle East Eye and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, SYRIA, LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. (WEST BANK 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli forces to seize land near Jenin in West Bank. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces have issued orders to seize approximately 12 hectares (30 acres) of land in Jalboun, a town north of Jenin, according to local officials. The mayor of Jalboun, Ibrahim Abu al-Rab, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Jenin camp ‘100 percent destroyed’ after two-month Israeli siege. From the Cradle. The Municipality Director of the occupied West Bank’s Jenin, Mamdouh Assaf, said today that the city has been almost completely destroyed by the Israeli siege and assault, which has been ongoing for nearly two months. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, SYRIA, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  LEBANON 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli attacks on Lebanon kill four. From Middle East Eye. Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanon on Sunday despite a ceasefire, killing four people, according to Lebanese state media and the Health Ministry. READ MORE . . .

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HTS-led Syrian forces clash with Lebanese army on border. From the Cradle. Intense clashes erupted on the Syrian–Lebanese border late on Sunday after Syrian military forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham carried out heavy shelling and launched rockets on Lebanese border towns. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP.

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For today, links to five reports: from Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines for others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (IRAN, SYRIA, WEST BANK, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli airstrike kills three in Gaza, medics say. From Reuters. CAIRO — An Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian men in the Gaza Strip, medics said today, and there was no sign of progress at renewed ceasefire talks. READ MORE . . .

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EU foreign policy chief welcomes Arab plan for Gaza reconstruction, by Necva Tastan Sevinc | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas today supported the Arab-led plan to reconstruct Gaza, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to assisting in the region’s recovery. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 16  Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented, by Samy Magdy | AP  CAIRO — Hamas said Saturday it will only release an American-Israeli and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an “exceptional deal” aimed at getting the truce back on track. READ MORE . . .

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Why are the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks stuck? Reported by Daniel Estrin and Aya Batrawy | NPR  TEL AVIV / DUBAI — Arab mediators are working to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after weeks of concerted U.S. involvement, including secret direct talks with the group. Efforts are stuck at the same . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 16  Thousands of children have been wounded in Gaza. We catch up with one of them. Reported by Rob Schmitz and Anas Baba | NPR  NPR producer Anas Baba reunites with Nimer sadi al nimer, a 12 year old boy who was shot by Israeli forces in Gaza last year. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, and Tass, and to an article of commentary from Substack via ScheerPost; others or at least headlines for others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, SYRIA, WEST BANK, LEBANON and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 3-16-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Zelensky signs law permitting Ukrainian troops to operate abroad during martial law, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law allowing Ukraine’s Armed Forces to be sent abroad during martial law, according to an official decree published today. The law aims to enhance defense cooperation . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin and Trump will speak on Tuesday about war in Ukraine, Kremlin confirms, by Chris Megerian | AP WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as he pushes to end the war in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM MARCH 16  U.S. hints at Ukraine concessions ahead of Trump-Putin call. From AFP. U.S. officials on Sunday expressed optimism that a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deal could be reached in “weeks,” but also hinted strongly that Ukraine will likely have to make some major concessions if a deal is to be reached. READ MORE . . .

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Russia seeks civilian monitors in Ukraine as part of peace deal. From Kyiv Post. Russia doesn’t want potential peace agreement monitors in Ukraine to be armed. Also, according to Russian media, for a peace agreement, Ukraine should be “neutral” and . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 16  Russia says evacuated over 350 civilians from retaken areas in Kursk Region. From AFP. Russia on Sunday said it has moved to safety 371 of its civilians from areas it retook from Ukrainian forces in its border Kursk region. They had become . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU approves payment of 3.5 bln euros to Kiev as part of macrofinancial assistance program. From Tass. BRUSSELS — The Council of the European Union has approved the payment of 3.5 billion euros to Ukraine under a macrofinancial assistance program known as the Ukraine Facilty, according to a statement. “With this third disbursement . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 14  Collapsing empire: ‘NATO is dead,’ by Kit Klarenberg | Substack / ScheerPost  On March 3, Timothy Ash of elite British state-connected ‘defence’ think tank Chatham House made a series of startling proclamations in an interview with Bloomberg — following the very public Feb. 28 Oval Office fallout between Volodomyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE, WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA, and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll down. IRAN 3-13-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Iran denies aiding Yemen’s Houthi rebels after U.S. strikes and a threat from Trump, by Samy Magdy | AP  CAIRO — Iran today again denied aiding Yemen’s Houthi rebels after the United States launched a wave of airstrikes against them and President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would be held “fully accountable” for their actions. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 15  Trump wants to restart nuclear negotiations with Iran. How likely is he to succeed? Reported by Scott Simon | NPR  Scott Simon of asks Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group how Iran may interpret President Trump’s letter delivered to Iranian officials this week. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to six reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, NBC News, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN, WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  UKRAINE 3-15-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. From the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine’s General Staff today confirmed Ukrainian troops’ withdrawal from the logistics hub of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, days after Moscow claimed its capture. READ MORE . . .

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Trump reappoints Kellogg as Ukraine envoy, dropping his Russia role. From Kyiv Post. U.S. President Donald Trump has reappointed retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as special envoy to Ukraine. Kellogg previously served as a special envoy for both Ukraine and Russia but was excluded from recent Saudi-led peace talks. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for March 13 report from NBC News.

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FROM MARCH 15  Rubio, Lavrov discuss next steps on Ukraine. From AFP. The top U.S. and Russian diplomats discussed Saturday the “next steps” to end the war in Ukraine, hours after Kyiv’s allies agreed to exert pressure on Moscow. READ MORE , , ,

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Russian air defenses down four JDAM bombs, 141 Ukrainian drones in past day — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — “Air defenses shot down four U.S.-made JDAM guided air bombs and 141 fixed-wing drones” of the Ukrainian army over the last 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 14  Understanding President Trump’s tough approach on Ukraine. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR  Ukraine agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, and President Trump says it’s now up to Russia. This comes after a weeks-long pressure campaign from the White House. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to a report from Reuters and to commentary from Middle East Eye; articles and at least headlines for others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, UKRAINE, LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 3-13-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 14  Israeli settlers attack West Bank village, residents say. From Reuters. Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Khirbet al-Marjam in the West Bank on Thursday night, burning three houses and a number of cars in the latest in a series of raids that have surged during the war in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 12  ‘No Other Land’ shows Israeli occupation cannot be whitewashed, by Ahmad Tibi | Middle East Eye  The uproar surrounding the documentary ‘No Other Land’ is unsurprising. Films that document the occupation and expose its unbearable human consequences always provoke harsh reactions from the Israeli establishment. This one focuses on the daily realities of Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area — one that includes home demolitions, family expulsions, dispossession and . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, a link to a report from the Cradle ; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (IRAN, UKRAINE, WEST BANK, SYRIA, GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  LEBANON 3-9-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 14  The eyes and ears that decapitated Hezbollah, by Anis Raiss | The Cradle  They were not killed on the battlefield. One by one, inside operation rooms, secured buildings, and what were supposed to be safe houses in Dahiye — Beirut’s southern suburb — Hezbollah’s commanders, members, and operatives were assassinated. READ MORE . . .

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