what to remember from Wednesday April 17

After Iran’s attack on its territory, Israel announced, for the third consecutive day, several injured in attacks by Hezbollah, which notably intensified the use of explosive drones.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his country’s rights “to protect oneself”, Wednesday April 17, in the face of calls from the international community which is trying to prevent a response from Israel against Iran, which risks dragging the Middle East into a spiral of conflicts. In addition to the threat from Iran and the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel faces fire from Lebanese Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran and the Palestinian Islamist movement. Franceinfo summarizes what to remember from this day.

Hezbollah targets Israeli military base, 14 soldiers injured

Lebanese Hezbollah said Wednesday it had targeted a military command post in northern Israel, which left 14 soldiers wounded, “in response” following the death of three of its fighters the day before in Israeli strikes. The Lebanese National Information Agency reported three drone strikes on this region, a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon. The deposit in question contained vegetables and agricultural products, according to an AFP photographer on site.

An Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said its air force had “hit deep in Lebanon” and aimed “a terrorist infrastructure used by the Hezbollah air defense force north of Baalbeck”. Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Hezbollah has carried out daily attacks against Israel to support the Palestinian Islamist movement, its ally.

Iran flexes its military muscles amid crisis with Israel

By parading soldiers, missiles and drones for “Army Day”, Iran wanted to show on Wednesday that it was “ready” to face a possible response from Israel, in response to its unprecedented attack targeting Israeli territory.

This annual celebration of the armed forces gave Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi the opportunity to launch new threats to Israel, sworn enemy of the Islamic Republic. “If the slightest aggression were perpetrated by the Zionist regime against our soil, it would lead to a fierce and severe response”he declared, addressing the military hierarchy after the parade on a base near Tehran.

This attack, described as “legitimate and deserved” by Hamas, was followed by threats of cross reprisals between Israel and Iran, which promised a response “fierce” to any response, in a context of strong regional tensions since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Tehran’s ally. “The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran confirms that the time when the Zionist entity could act as it pleases without being held accountable or suffering punishment is over,” Hamas said in a statement Wednesday.

Negotiations for a truce in Gaza “are stalling”

Negotiations aimed at ending hostilities in the Gaza Strip and freeing Israeli hostages “trample”noted on Wednesday the Prime Minister of Qatar, one of the main mediators between the Jewish state and Hamas. “We are going through a sensitive phase”, recognized Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane al-Thani, during a press conference. On Wednesday evening, Qatar finally declared “carry out a global reassessment” of his role as a leading mediator in the negotiations for a break in the fighting.

UN aid enters Gaza Strip through Ashdod port

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday the entry into the Gaza Strip of eight truckloads of flour from the World Food Program, via the Israeli port of Ashdod as part of efforts to increase aid deliveries to the besieged Palestinian territory and at war.

On April 5, the Israeli government, under pressure from its allies and international organizations, announced several measures aimed at accelerating aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, which is besieged and facing a humanitarian tragedy. Among these measures was the arrival of aid for Gaza at the port of Ashdod due to its proximity to the Palestinian territory.