The Middle East faces the risk of conflagration. The Israeli army said it was preparing for “any scenario” the day after a fatal strike in the suburbs of Beirut on N.2 of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas while Emmanuel Macron called on the Jewish state to “avoid any attitude escalatory
“Israeli forces are in a very high state of readiness in all arenas, on defense and on offense. We are highly prepared for any scenario. The most important thing to say tonight is that we are focused and remain focused on the fight against Hamas,” army spokesman Daniel Hagari said late Tuesday.
Earlier, Lebanon was shaken by a strong shock wave with a strike attributed to Israel in the southern suburbs of Beirut, stronghold of pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which killed Saleh al-Arouri, N.2 of the political branch of the Hamas, as well as at least six other of its cadres.
“This crime will not go unpunished,” warns Lebanese Hezbollah
“A movement whose leaders and founders fall as martyrs for the dignity of our people and our nation will never be defeated,” responded Ismaïl Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, denouncing “a violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon” and an “expansion” of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
Lebanese Hezbollah warned on Tuesday evening that “the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri” was not only a “serious aggression against Lebanon” but also “a serious development in the war between the enemy and the axis of resistance “, an expression designating Iran and its regional allies hostile to Israel.
“This crime will not go unanswered or unpunished,” added Hezbollah, whose secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, is due to deliver a highly anticipated speech on Wednesday evening at a time when Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is accusing Israel of “wanting to drag Lebanon in a new phase of confrontation.”
Call from Emmanuel Macron
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, tensions have increased on the Israeli-Lebanese border, in Syria and Iraq where American bases have been targeted, and in the Red Sea with attacks by Houthi rebels. , aimed at curbing international maritime traffic, in “support” of Gaza.
In this context, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to “avoid any escalatory attitude, particularly in Lebanon” during a telephone interview with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet.
During this interview, Emmanuel Macron reiterated his call to “work for a lasting ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas and expressed “his deepest concern in the face of the very heavy civilian death toll” in the Gaza Strip. , scene of continuous air raids and artillery fire for almost three months.