Tension grows in Middle East. Israel raised accusations regarding the participation of some employees of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the October 7 attacks. Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony blinken, visiting Tel Aviv, met Netanyahu, expressing concern about the high civilian death toll in Gaza, while denying the accusation of “genocide”. But without getting any results. Every day more and more dramatic images arrive from Gaza. At the end of the meeting, the Israeli prime minister allowed the UN to visit the north of the Strip.
In Ukraine the situation is no better, following cyber attacks against the Moscow provider and Russian bombings on 9 communities. Zelensky visit the Lithuania, while the European Union seeks a "plan B" to unblock Hungary's veto on aid to Kiev. “Unfortunately the summer counteroffensive did not give the desired results and the Kiev army is facing a new winter of war”, the words of the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto which reiterated Italian support for the Ukrainian government.
Israel-Hamas war: latest news
Meanwhile, Israel conducted two RAID in the south of Lebanon, hitting two locations with drones. A first attack in Kfarchouba, on the border with Israel, caused one casualty. A second raid took place in Naqoura, southern Lebanon. These are developments that add further complexity to the already tense situation in the region.
At the same time, the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, has initiated contacts with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for a possible new hostage deal with Israel. This initiative emerged after the visit of an Israeli delegation to Cairo, during which a "revised" proposal was presented that includes clauses on ceasefire, humanitarian aid and prisoner exchange.
Diplomatic efforts were accompanied by military actions. US forces have shot down 24 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen in Red Sea, thus foiling one of the largest rebel attacks in recent months. At the same time, Israeli troops continue operations against Hamas in the Khan Younis and Maghazi areas of Gaza, revealing the discovery of 15 shafts to access underground tunnels, along with weapons such as rocket launchers, rockets, drones and explosives.
Blinken's Mission Impossible
La Blinken mission, between the drama of the war and the shadows of the post-war period, faces the arduous task of avoiding total involvement of the United States in the region. In this intricate geopolitical game, Blinken clashes with tensions in Lebanon and the Red Sea. During the meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, the US Secretary of State asked to avoid further damage to civilians in Gaza, underlining the high toll of civilian victims and children. However, the request appears to have fallen on deaf ears, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pledging more intensive operations in Khan Yunis.
After Netanyahu, Blinken met the Palestinian president in the West Bank Abu Mazen. On the table, the dossier of the war in Gaza: the US position is known which wants the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to be involved in the future management of the Strip at the end of the war. After that, the US Secretary of State will go to Aqaba, Jordan, for a meeting on the same topic with King Abdallah and the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Despite efforts, Blinken's fourth trip to the Middle East reveals a complex picture, with potentially difficult consequences for the Biden administration.
Ukraine-Russia war: what is happening
In Ukraine, tension is skyrocketing following the attack of a local hacker group which targeted the Moscow internet provider, “M9com”. The result? Part of the Russian capital suddenly found itself without Internet and TV, while a second cyber attack published the data of Russia's largest private bank, Alfa Bank.
The situation on war front shows no signs of respite. Russian forces bombed 9 communities in Sumy oblast, causing damage to homes and a local cultural center. This was reported by the regional military administration. The Russian army targeted the communities of Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Seredyna-Buda, Svesy, Znob-Novhorodske, Novoslobidske and Esman with mortar and artillery attacks. Complicating everything are the freezing temperatures, which in many areas have dropped to -15 degrees, especially in those cities and villages that are without electricity.
While the number of seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers has increased by 30% in recent weeks, Russia has also suffered heavily Prevention since the beginning of the war, according to a Ukrainian report: over 366 thousand soldiers, 6.038 tanks, and a number of other military vehicles and equipment.
Zelensky in Lithuania, the EU moves to "plan B"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, to thank the country for its diplomatic, financial and military support for Ukraine. The mission is followed by an expected announcement of further aid from Lithuania.
As the war and casualties continue, theEuropean Union is working on a “plan B" to break the impasse on the multi-year budget review, created by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbàn. To facilitate approval, it is being considered to separate the 50 billion in support for Ukraine into an autonomous instrument during the review of the European Union budget (an extraordinary summit is scheduled for February 1). This could allow a 26-member agreement, overcoming the obstacle of unanimity needed for financial issues.
