diff --git a/api/ticket_comment_api.php b/api/ticket_comment_api.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da9f303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ticket_comment_api.php
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * ticket_comment_api.php — Bearer-key endpoint to post a comment on a ticket.
+ *
+ * POST only. Requires 'read_write' scope.
+ *
+ * Identity = PER-KEY LABEL: the comment author (ticket_comments.user_name) is the
+ * API key's key_name and the linked user_id is the key's created_by.
+ *
+ * Body (JSON): {
+ *   "ticket_id":        "NNN"   (required),
+ *   "comment_text":     "..."   (required, non-empty),
+ *   "markdown_enabled": bool     (optional)
+ * }
+ * Response: {success:true, comment_id:...}
+ */
+
+header('Content-Type: application/json');
+
+error_reporting(E_ALL);
+ini_set('display_errors', 0);
+
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/RateLimitMiddleware.php';
+RateLimitMiddleware::apply('api');
+
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/config/config.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/helpers/Database.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/ApiKeyAuth.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/TicketModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/CommentModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/AuditLogModel.php';
+
+try {
+    $conn = Database::getConnection();
+} catch (Throwable $e) {
+    error_log('ticket_comment_api: DB connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Internal server error']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$apiKeyAuth = new ApiKeyAuth($conn);
+
+try {
+    $apiKeyAuth->authenticate();
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    // ApiKeyAuth already sent the 401 response.
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Posting a comment is a write — reject 'read' keys with 403 before any mutation.
+$apiKeyAuth->requireScope('read_write');
+
+if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] !== 'POST') {
+    http_response_code(405);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Method not allowed. Use POST.']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$context = $apiKeyAuth->getKeyContext();
+$keyName = $context['key_name'] ?? 'API';
+$createdBy = ($context['created_by'] ?? null) !== null ? (int)$context['created_by'] : null;
+
+$rawInput = file_get_contents('php://input');
+$data = json_decode($rawInput, true);
+if (!is_array($data)) {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Invalid JSON body']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$ticketId = isset($data['ticket_id']) ? trim((string)$data['ticket_id']) : '';
+if ($ticketId === '') {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'ticket_id is required']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$commentText = isset($data['comment_text']) ? trim((string)$data['comment_text']) : '';
+if ($commentText === '') {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'comment_text is required']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$markdownEnabled = !empty($data['markdown_enabled']);
+
+// Validate the ticket exists.
+$ticketModel = new TicketModel($conn);
+$ticket = $ticketModel->getTicketById($ticketId);
+if (!$ticket) {
+    http_response_code(404);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Ticket not found']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Post the comment under the key's label / owner.
+$commentModel = new CommentModel($conn);
+$result = $commentModel->addComment($ticketId, [
+    'user_name' => $keyName,
+    'comment_text' => $commentText,
+    'markdown_enabled' => $markdownEnabled,
+], $createdBy);
+
+if (empty($result['success'])) {
+    error_log('ticket_comment_api: addComment failed for ticket ' . $ticketId
+        . ': ' . ($result['error'] ?? 'unknown'));
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Failed to add comment']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$commentId = $result['comment_id'] ?? null;
+
+// Audit trail (action 'comment' / entity 'comment' are both whitelisted).
+$auditLog = new AuditLogModel($conn);
+$auditLog->log($createdBy, 'comment', 'comment', (string)$commentId, [
+    'ticket_id' => $ticketId,
+    'key_name' => $keyName,
+    'via_api' => true,
+]);
+
+echo json_encode(['success' => true, 'comment_id' => $commentId]);
+exit;
diff --git a/api/ticket_status_api.php b/api/ticket_status_api.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..144ce68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ticket_status_api.php
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * ticket_status_api.php — Bearer-key endpoint to change a ticket's status.
+ *
+ * POST only. Requires 'read_write' scope.
+ *
+ * Body (JSON): {
+ *   "ticket_id":        "NNN"   (required),
+ *   "status":           "..."   (required target status),
+ *   "comment":          "..."   (optional; REQUIRED when the transition
+ *                                requires_comment),
+ *   "markdown_enabled": bool     (optional, applies to the comment)
+ * }
+ * Response: {success:true, ticket_id, status}
+ *
+ * Mirrors api/update_ticket.php: workflow validation, requires_comment
+ * enforcement, updateTicket (updated_by/updated_at + closed_at handling), Matrix
+ * status-change notification, and StatsModel cache invalidation. When a comment
+ * is supplied it is posted first (per-key label) so "close with reason" is one call.
+ */
+
+header('Content-Type: application/json');
+
+error_reporting(E_ALL);
+ini_set('display_errors', 0);
+
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/RateLimitMiddleware.php';
+RateLimitMiddleware::apply('api');
+
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/config/config.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/helpers/Database.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/ApiKeyAuth.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/TicketModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/CommentModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/WorkflowModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/AuditLogModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/StatsModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/helpers/NotificationHelper.php';
+
+try {
+    $conn = Database::getConnection();
+} catch (Throwable $e) {
+    error_log('ticket_status_api: DB connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Internal server error']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$apiKeyAuth = new ApiKeyAuth($conn);
+
+try {
+    $apiKeyAuth->authenticate();
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    // ApiKeyAuth already sent the 401 response.
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Changing status is a write — reject 'read' keys with 403 before any mutation.
+$apiKeyAuth->requireScope('read_write');
+
+if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] !== 'POST') {
+    http_response_code(405);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Method not allowed. Use POST.']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$context = $apiKeyAuth->getKeyContext();
+$keyName = $context['key_name'] ?? 'API';
+$createdBy = ($context['created_by'] ?? null) !== null ? (int)$context['created_by'] : null;
+
+$rawInput = file_get_contents('php://input');
+$data = json_decode($rawInput, true);
+if (!is_array($data)) {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Invalid JSON body']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$ticketId = isset($data['ticket_id']) ? trim((string)$data['ticket_id']) : '';
+if ($ticketId === '') {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'ticket_id is required']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$newStatus = isset($data['status']) ? trim((string)$data['status']) : '';
+if ($newStatus === '') {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'status is required']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$comment = isset($data['comment']) ? trim((string)$data['comment']) : '';
+
+// Validate the ticket exists.
+$ticketModel = new TicketModel($conn);
+$ticket = $ticketModel->getTicketById($ticketId);
+if (!$ticket) {
+    http_response_code(404);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Ticket not found']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$currentStatus = (string)$ticket['status'];
+
+// Validate the transition (API key is never admin).
+$workflowModel = new WorkflowModel($conn);
+if (!$workflowModel->isTransitionAllowed($currentStatus, $newStatus, false)) {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode([
+        'success' => false,
+        'error' => 'Status transition not allowed: ' . $currentStatus . ' -> ' . $newStatus,
+    ]);
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Enforce requires_comment transitions server-side.
+if ($workflowModel->transitionRequiresComment($currentStatus, $newStatus) && $comment === '') {
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode([
+        'success' => false,
+        'error' => 'A comment is required for this status change',
+        'requires_comment' => true,
+    ]);
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Post the comment first (per-key label) so a close-with-reason is one call.
+if ($comment !== '') {
+    $commentModel = new CommentModel($conn);
+    $commentResult = $commentModel->addComment($ticketId, [
+        'user_name' => $keyName,
+        'comment_text' => $comment,
+        'markdown_enabled' => !empty($data['markdown_enabled']),
+    ], $createdBy);
+    if (empty($commentResult['success'])) {
+        error_log('ticket_status_api: addComment failed for ticket ' . $ticketId
+            . ': ' . ($commentResult['error'] ?? 'unknown'));
+        http_response_code(500);
+        echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Failed to add comment']);
+        exit;
+    }
+}
+
+// Apply the status change. updateTicket sets updated_by/updated_at and handles
+// closed_at (set on close, cleared on reopen) via its own SQL.
+$updateData = [
+    'ticket_id' => $ticketId,
+    'title' => $ticket['title'],
+    'description' => $ticket['description'],
+    'category' => $ticket['category'],
+    'type' => $ticket['type'],
+    'status' => $newStatus,
+    'priority' => (int)$ticket['priority'],
+];
+
+$updateResult = $ticketModel->updateTicket($updateData, $createdBy);
+if (empty($updateResult['success'])) {
+    error_log('ticket_status_api: updateTicket failed for ticket ' . $ticketId
+        . ': ' . ($updateResult['error'] ?? 'unknown'));
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Failed to update ticket status']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Notify, audit, and refresh stats only when the status actually changed.
+if ($currentStatus !== $newStatus) {
+    NotificationHelper::sendStatusChangeNotification(
+        $ticketId,
+        $currentStatus,
+        $newStatus,
+        (string)$ticket['title'],
+        $keyName
+    );
+    NotificationHelper::notifyWatchers(
+        $conn,
+        $ticketId,
+        (string)$ticket['title'],
+        'status_changed',
+        ['old_status' => $currentStatus, 'new_status' => $newStatus, 'changed_by' => $keyName],
+        $createdBy,
+        $ticket['visibility'] ?? 'public'
+    );
+
+    // Audit trail (action 'update' / entity 'ticket' are both whitelisted).
+    $auditLog = new AuditLogModel($conn);
+    $auditLog->log($createdBy, 'update', 'ticket', $ticketId, [
+        'status' => ['from' => $currentStatus, 'to' => $newStatus],
+        'key_name' => $keyName,
+        'via_api' => true,
+    ]);
+
+    // Status change is a ticket-state change — refresh dashboard stats.
+    (new StatsModel($conn))->invalidateCache();
+}
+
+echo json_encode([
+    'success' => true,
+    'ticket_id' => $ticketId,
+    'status' => $newStatus,
+]);
+exit;
diff --git a/api/tickets_api.php b/api/tickets_api.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a04ee0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/tickets_api.php
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * tickets_api.php — Bearer-key read endpoint (list/triage + read-one).
+ *
+ * GET only. Requires 'read' scope (a 'read_write' key also satisfies it).
+ * Acts as a trusted automation/server credential: reads return the full queue
+ * (no per-user visibility filtering).
+ *
+ *   GET ?ticket_id=NNN            -> {success, ticket, comments}
+ *   GET ?status=&priority=&host=  -> {success, tickets, page, total, pages}
+ *       &page=&limit=
+ */
+
+header('Content-Type: application/json');
+
+error_reporting(E_ALL);
+ini_set('display_errors', 0);
+
+// Rate limiting (same pattern as the other Bearer API endpoints)
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/RateLimitMiddleware.php';
+RateLimitMiddleware::apply('api');
+
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/config/config.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/helpers/Database.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/middleware/ApiKeyAuth.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/TicketModel.php';
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/models/CommentModel.php';
+
+try {
+    $conn = Database::getConnection();
+} catch (Throwable $e) {
+    error_log('tickets_api: DB connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Internal server error']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$apiKeyAuth = new ApiKeyAuth($conn);
+
+try {
+    $apiKeyAuth->authenticate();
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    // ApiKeyAuth already sent the 401 response.
+    exit;
+}
+
+// Reads only need the 'read' scope.
+$apiKeyAuth->requireScope('read');
+
+if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] !== 'GET') {
+    http_response_code(405);
+    echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Method not allowed. Use GET.']);
+    exit;
+}
+
+$ticketModel = new TicketModel($conn);
+
+// ── READ ONE ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+if (isset($_GET['ticket_id']) && trim((string)$_GET['ticket_id']) !== '') {
+    $ticketId = trim((string)$_GET['ticket_id']);
+
+    $ticket = $ticketModel->getTicketById($ticketId);
+    if (!$ticket) {
+        http_response_code(404);
+        echo json_encode(['success' => false, 'error' => 'Ticket not found']);
+        exit;
+    }
+
+    // Flat list of comments (newest first) — same fetch the ticket view uses.
+    $commentModel = new CommentModel($conn);
+    $comments = $commentModel->getCommentsByTicketId($ticketId, false);
+
+    echo json_encode([
+        'success' => true,
+        'ticket' => $ticket,
+        'comments' => $comments,
+    ]);
+    exit;
+}
+
+// ── LIST / TRIAGE ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+$status = (isset($_GET['status']) && trim((string)$_GET['status']) !== '')
+    ? trim((string)$_GET['status'])
+    : 'Open';
+
+$page = isset($_GET['page']) ? (int)$_GET['page'] : 1;
+if ($page < 1) {
+    $page = 1;
+}
+
+$limit = isset($_GET['limit']) ? (int)$_GET['limit'] : 25;
+if ($limit < 1) {
+    $limit = 25;
+}
+if ($limit > 100) {
+    $limit = 100; // cap
+}
+
+$filters = [];
+if (isset($_GET['priority']) && trim((string)$_GET['priority']) !== '') {
+    $priority = (int)$_GET['priority'];
+    if ($priority >= 1 && $priority <= 5) {
+        // Exact-priority match via the min/max range filter.
+        $filters['priority_min'] = $priority;
+        $filters['priority_max'] = $priority;
+    }
+}
+
+// hwmon puts the host in the title (e.g. "[hostname] ..."), so a host filter is a
+// title substring match — served by getAllTickets's `search` param (title search).
+$search = null;
+if (isset($_GET['host']) && trim((string)$_GET['host']) !== '') {
+    $search = trim((string)$_GET['host']);
+}
+
+// user = null => getAllTickets skips visibility filtering and returns the full
+// queue (this is a trusted server credential, not an end user).
+$result = $ticketModel->getAllTickets(
+    $page,
+    $limit,
+    $status,
+    'ticket_id',
+    'desc',
+    null,
+    null,
+    $search,
+    $filters,
+    null
+);
+
+echo json_encode([
+    'success' => true,
+    'tickets' => $result['tickets'],
+    'page' => $result['current_page'],
+    'total' => $result['total'],
+    'pages' => $result['pages'],
+]);
+exit;