To better understand the latest events in the conflict between the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Israel, 20 minutes takes stock every evening. Between the strong declarations, the diplomatic advances or the dramatic results of the fighting, here are the main points of the day.
The fact of the day
What really happened during the attack targeting Hamas number 2 Saleh al-Arouri this Tuesday? A Lebanese official told AFP today that he would have been targeted by “guided missiles” fired from an Israeli fighter plane. The official Lebanese agency Ani had indicated earlier that this attack, targeting the outskirts of the Lebanese capital for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza, had been carried out by a drone.
The security official, informed of the preliminary investigations and who requested anonymity, explained that Hamas number two had been killed “not by a drone, but by guided missiles fired from an Israeli fighter plane.” He mentions the highly “precise” nature of the strike on the one hand, and the substantial weight of the missiles, which weighed around “100 kilograms” each. The Israeli army did not claim responsibility for the strike but said on Wednesday it was preparing for “any scenario”.
The number of the day
12. This is the number of countries – including the United States and eleven allies – who have asked the Yemeni Houthi rebels to “immediately stop their illegal attacks” on ships in the Red Sea, otherwise they “will face the consequences”. “The Houthis will bear responsibility for the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of trade in the region’s essential waterways,” said this coalition of countries in a statement.
Sentence of the day
The United States is our good friend, but above all, we will do what is good for the State of Israel: encouraging the emigration of hundreds of thousands of people from Gaza will allow (Israeli) residents to return home ( on the edge of Gaza) and live in safety while protecting our soldiers”
This is a statement from Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who again advocated this Wednesday a mass departure of Palestinians from Gaza, rejecting American criticism calling his previous statements discussing this scenario “irresponsible”. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned these statements deemed “provocative”.
Today’s trend
In the Middle East, everyone fears a new escalation of the conflict. The day after the death of Hamas number two, Saleh al-Arouri, already high tensions were reawakened by the double explosion that occurred in Iran during commemorations of General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iranian military operations in the Middle East. East. The attack was deemed “terrorist”, but has not yet been claimed. Accusing the “diabolical and criminal enemies” of Iran, the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacted by promising “a severe response” to this “disaster”.
As for Hezbollah during a highly anticipated speech, its leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel: “For the moment, we are fighting on the front in a calculated manner (…) but if the enemy thinks of launching a war against Lebanon , we will fight without limits, without restrictions, without borders.” Before adding: “We do not fear war”.