what to remember from Saturday January 6

The risks of an export of the conflict to the Middle East, and in particular to Lebanon, are intensifying, which worries Western leaders.

The war between Israel and Hamas continues, and the risks of an export of the conflict to the Middle East are intensifying. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, notably warned about “the risk of regional conflagration [qui] has never been so important”, while the head of EU diplomacy judges “absolutely necessary to prevent Lebanon from being drawn into a regional conflict.”

These statements come after a new day of tensions on the Lebanese border between Lebanese Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which also claims to have “completed the dismantling” of Hamas’ military capabilities in northern Gaza. Here is what to remember from the 91st day of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Israel says it has “completed the military dismantling” of Hamas in northern Gaza

The Israeli army wants now focus on dismantling the Palestinian Islamist movement “in the center and south of this territory”, after having “completed the dismantling” Hamas military in northern Gaza. “We’re going to do it differently […] it takes time, there are no shortcuts in the fight against terrorism”, said General Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army, during a press conference.

France warns of a risk of “regional conflagration”

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to urge “Iran and its cronies” to stop “immediately” their “destabilizing actions” in the Middle East, amid fears of an export of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Catherine Colonna asserts about to have “sends a very clear message: the risk of regional conflagration has never been so significant.” The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken, on his way to a new tour of the Middle East, said for his part he wanted to avoid an extension of the conflict at all costs.

EU foreign minister calls on Lebanon not to go to war

“It is imperative to avoid regional escalation in the Middle East, it is absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being drawn into a regional conflict”, declared the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, during a press conference in Beirut with his Lebanese counterpart. The leader also addressed the Jewish state, judging that “No one will win from a regional conflict.”

Strikes continue on the Lebanese border

The Israeli army claimed to have carried out strikes against Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon. She says she attacked “a series of targets of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in the regions of Aita al-Sha’ab, Yaron and Ramya in southern Lebanon.” This comes after the firing of dozens of rockets towards northern Israel by Lebanese Hezbollah, in reaction to the strike which killed Hamas number 2, Saleh al-Arouri, on Wednesday south of Beirut.

No respite in the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian enclave is still the scene of clashes between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli air force has carried out new strikes on the besieged and devastated Gaza Strip, where dozens of Palestinians have died in the past 24 hours. The UN has described the territory as “uninhabitable place of death”.

Hamas, for its part, announced a new death toll of 22,722 since the start of the war on October 7. This tally from the Palestinian Movement’s Health Ministry includes the 122 people killed in the past 24 hours in Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. No source on site can independently support this assessment.