War in the Middle East: French soldier killed in Lebanon, new blockage of the Strait of Hormuz… What to remember

Israel’s army announces they have eliminated a “terrorist cell” in southern Lebanon, where they have established a “red line” of demarcation, similar to Gaza.

The war continued in the Middle East on Saturday, April 18, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, supported by Iran. Meanwhile, a French soldier was killed after an attack targeting UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Further southeast, Tehran has regained “strict control” of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of “piracy.” Franceinfo provides an overview of the day’s key information.

A French soldier killed in southern Lebanon

Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio, attached to the 17th Parachute Engineering Regiment of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), was killed and three other compatriots were injured in southern Lebanon during an attack on UN peacekeepers. A patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) “was tasked with demining a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to restore communication with isolated UN positions,” according to a Unifil statement. Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio was then “ambushed by an armed group at very close range,” detailed Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, on X. He was hit by “direct fire from a firearm.”

Emmanuel Macron immediately accused Hezbollah of being responsible for Florian Montorio’s death. Following a preliminary investigation, Unifil denounced a “deliberate attack” and stated that “non-state actors,” likely Hezbollah, were responsible, a claim denied by the pro-Iranian Shiite movement.

Iran receives “new proposals” from the US

Towards progress in discussions between the US and Iran? “In recent days, during the presence of the Pakistani army commander in Tehran, acting as a mediator, the Americans presented new proposals. Iran is currently reviewing them and has not yet responded,” declared the National Security Supreme Council, cited by the official Irna news agency. This body added that Iranian negotiators would make “no compromises.”

Shots fired at an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, blocked again

Commercial vessels came under fire and threats from the Iranian army as they tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. According to the UK Maritime Security Agency, boats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired at an oil tanker. The ship and crew are safe, according to this source. Any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be “targeted,” the Revolutionary Guard Forces stated in the evening.

Iranian authorities announced that they were resuming “strict control” of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the continued US blockade of Iranian ports, reversing a decision from the previous day to reopen this strategic maritime route. Donald Trump stated that Iran could not “blackmail” the US after Tehran’s announcement of reblocking the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “They wanted to close the strait again,” said the US president during the signing of a decree at the White House regarding the leaders of the Republic.

Israel says it has “eliminated a terrorist cell” in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army declared that their air force had “eliminated” a “terrorist cell” operating near their troops in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire in the war between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. The Israeli army also announced they had established a “red line” of demarcation in southern Lebanon, similar to Gaza, and conducted strikes against suspects approaching their troops.