Yemen's Houthi rebels claim missile attack on Israel

While the truce agreement between Hamas and Israel is due to come into force on Sunday January 19 at 7:30 a.m. after more than 15 months of a devastating war, the guns have not yet fallen silent. Warning sirens sounded in the heart of Jerusalem on Saturday, followed by explosions. Yemen's Houthis said they targeted the “Ministry of Defense of the Israeli enemy” using a ballistic missile.

At the same time, the Palestinian terror group said the Jewish state had failed in its war aims “aggressive”. In Lebanon, new President Joseph Aoun is demanding that Israeli soldiers withdraw from the south of his country. Le Figaro takes stock of the situation in the Middle East.

Houthis claim missile attack on Israel

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel, where the army earlier claimed to have intercepted a projectile coming from that country. The Houthis targeted the “Ministry of Defense of the Israeli enemy in the occupied region of Yafa (the Arabic name for Jaffa, editor's note) using a ballistic missile”said their military spokesperson, Yahya Saree.

On Saturday morning, explosions were heard above Jerusalem around 9:20 a.m., after warning sirens were triggered in the city and in central Israel. A few minutes later, the army announced that it had intercepted the projectile launched from Yemen.

On Thursday, the Houthis warned that they would continue their attacks if Israel did not respect the terms of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. These rebels are part, notably with Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, of what Iran calls “the axis of resistance” facing Israel. They have also attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea accused of links to Israel. In response to their attacks, Israel struck Houthi targets, including in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa.

For Hamas, Israel has failed in its “aggressive” war aims

Israel has failed in its war aims “aggressive”the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said on Saturday, on the eve of the entry into force on Sunday of a truce agreement after more than 15 months of war having devastated the Gaza Strip. Israel “failed to achieve its aggressive objectives and only managed to commit war crimes that dishonor humanity”indicates a press release from the movement.

Gaza truce agreement to enter into force at 7:30 a.m. Sunday

The agreement on a truce in Gaza and releases of hostages is due to come into force on Sunday morning, the day after its approval on Saturday by Israel. It will begin on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. in Israel), announced Qatar, one of the international mediators with Egypt and the United States who managed to obtain this agreement after more than a year of laborious negotiations.

In a first phase spread over six weeks, it provides for a cessation of hostilities and the release of 33 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Announced on Wednesday by the mediators, the agreement aims, according to the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, to ultimately lead to “a definitive end to the war”triggered by an unprecedented attack by Palestinian Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023 during which the hostages were kidnapped.

But while waiting for the truce to begin, on the eve of Monday's inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, the Israeli army continued its strikes on Gaza, which have left more than 100 dead since Wednesday, after rescue. The Health Ministry of the Hamas government in Gaza announced on Saturday that at least 23 people had been killed in the Palestinian territory in the past 24 hours. This brings the death toll from hostilities with Israel to more than 46,899, indicates a ministry press release.

Lebanese president calls for withdrawal of Israeli army from south

The newly elected Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, demanded on Saturday the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the south of the country “within the set deadlines” by the ceasefire agreement which ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel, on January 26. “Lebanon is committed to the need for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its occupied territories within the deadline set by the agreement” ceasefire, declared the Head of State while receiving the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres.

The agreement stipulates that the Lebanese army must deploy alongside the peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, from where the Israeli army must withdraw over a period of 60 days, until January 26. However, this process has not yet been completed. Having emerged weakened from the war, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement must withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, approximately 30 km from the Lebanese-Israeli border.

“With the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the presence of the Lebanese army throughout Lebanese territory, it will be possible to open a new chapter of peace”for his part declared the UN chief to journalists after the interview.