War in the Middle East: second French soldier dies in Lebanon, ships seized in the Strait of Hormuz…

Donald Trump has notably judged it “possible” that discussions with Iran may resume in the coming days, after extending the ceasefire the day before.

Following the extension of the ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran announced by Donald Trump, he asserts that he has not set a deadline for Iran to make a proposal, as reported by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, April 22. He also judged it “possible” that discussions with Iran may resume in the coming days. On another front of the war, a second French soldier from the UN mission in Lebanon has died. Franceinfo details the key points from the news of the day.

A second French soldier has died in Lebanon

A second French military member from the UN mission in Lebanon, Anicet Girardin, died on Wednesday after being critically wounded in an ambush attributed to Hezbollah. It was in this ambush that another French soldier, Adjudant Florian Montorio, was fatally injured on Saturday. French authorities and the UN have attributed this attack to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, which is fighting Israeli forces in the area but has denied any responsibility.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the death of Corporal-Chef Anicet Girardin from the 132nd Infantry Regiment of Suippes (Marne), who was repatriated to France the day before. He was being treated at the Percy military hospital in Clamart. “The Nation, which will pay tribute tomorrow to Adjudant Florian Montorio fatally injured during the same ambush, solemnly salutes the memory of Corporal-Chef Anicet Girardin and his sacrifice”, added the French President.

A journalist killed in Lebanon by an Israeli airstrike

Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was “killed in an airstrike” by the Israeli military on Wednesday in al-Thiri, southern Lebanon, as announced by Civil Defense. Her death was confirmed by the Al-Akhbar newspaper where she worked. Another journalist was injured in the strike.

Donald Trump “has not set a deadline to receive a proposal from Iran” in negotiations

Donald Trump has not set a deadline for Iran to make a proposal, as reported by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday following the extension of the ceasefire until further notice announced by the American President. The President also judged it “possible” that discussions with Iran may resume in the coming days, in an exchange with the New York Post.

On the other hand, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they “appreciate” Pakistan’s efforts to end the war but did not comment on the unilateral extension of the ceasefire decided by Washington, according to state television.

Another communication discrepancy between the two camps: Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that, at his request, Iranian authorities had renounced executing eight protesters. However, the Iranian judiciary later accused the American President of spreading “false information”. “Trump is empty-handed on the ground, which has led him to concoct successes out of false information”, stated Mizan, the press organ of the Iranian judiciary.

Iran claims to have seized two ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of Iran, claimed their naval forces intercepted two ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. “The two offending ships were seized by the naval forces of the Revolutionary Guards and directed towards the Iranian coast”, it was added. This is not considered a violation of the ceasefire by Donald Trump, according to the White House spokesperson. “No, because they were neither American nor Israeli ships. They were two international ships”, she affirmed on Fox News.

On Wednesday, the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ruled out a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as long as the American blockade of Iranian ports continues. “A comprehensive ceasefire makes sense only if it is not violated by a naval blockade (…) the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is impossible as long as the ceasefire is openly violated”, wrote this figure of Iranian power.

Over 50,000 homes destroyed or damaged by Israel

Over 50,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in Lebanon in Israeli operations in over six weeks of war, reported a Lebanese official on Wednesday. “In almost 45 days [of war], we have identified 17,756 destroyed homes, and 32,668 damaged ones”, stated the Secretary-General of the National Council for Scientific Research, Chadi Abdallah. According to the same source, “428 homes were destroyed in the first three days” of the truce.