Iraq, two tankers hit: a sailor dead. New Israeli raids on Tehran

Off the Iraqi coast, two oil tankers have been engulfed in flames following a violent attack carried out by Iranian boats loaded with explosives. The assault has unfortunately resulted in the death of a crew member. While the fires continue to rage aboard the ships, rescue teams have so far managed to evacuate twenty-five sailors and are tirelessly continuing the complex operations of searching for the missing. At the same time, the direct conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic has seen a new, massive offensive. The Israeli Air Force, according to announcements from the IDF and reported by the Times of Israel, has launched a wide wave of airstrikes directly on Tehran, targeting strategic sites and infrastructure of the Iranian regime.

In this scenario of extremely high military tension, international diplomacy is attempting to open new and unprecedented avenues of stability in the Levant. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he had a long conversation with the leaders of Lebanon and Syria, highlighting the emergence of a partnership of equals and France's willingness to contribute to this new axis. Macron described the current moment as a historic opportunity for the two nations, both of which have been deeply marked by the weight of the past Assad dictatorship, terrorism, and ongoing regional crises.

In his speech, the head of the Élysée openly praised the courage of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun who, with the support of the government of Nawaf Salam and the Armed Forces, is facing threats to the security and unity of the country. Macron pointed a harsh finger at Hezbollah, accusing the group of making a serious strategic mistake by dragging Lebanon into an open conflict with Israel, and demanded the immediate cessation of attacks. At the same time, the French president issued a warning to Israel, asking Tel Aviv to unequivocally renounce any ground offensive in Lebanese territory. A sign of strong discontinuity with the past, Macron finally emphasized, is represented by the position of the new Syrian president Ahmad Al-Charaa. His full support for the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to restore state control in respect of national sovereignty is seen by Paris as the guarantee for finally healthy and constructive relations between the two neighboring countries. Promising to strongly encourage this Syrian-Lebanese coordination, Macron assured that he will maintain close contacts with both leaderships.