U.S. and French Foreign Ministers Discuss; Blinken Calls for Immediate End to 'Illegal' Houthi Attacks

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, called for an immediate end to the 'illegal' Houthi attacks supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran on commercial vessels in the Red Sea during a phone conversation with his French counterpart. The Houthis have carried out 25 attacks against commercial ships passing through the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated that Blinken and Catherine Colonna discussed the importance of significant actions to prevent the escalation of conflicts between Israel and Hamas, including positive steps towards de-escalation in the West Bank and preventing tensions from escalating in Iran and Lebanon. Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East on Thursday, January 4, for continued 'diplomatic consultations' regarding the Gaza war, with a stop in Israel. As the war between Israel and Hamas approaches three months, international concerns about the potential spread of conflicts to other areas such as the West Bank, the Israel-Lebanon border, and shipping lanes in the Red Sea have increased. A drone attack on Tuesday in the suburbs of Beirut, which resulted in the death of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy leader of Hamas, has also heightened the sensitivity of the situation. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its role in this attack, but it occurred a month after the 'Kan' television network aired statements from the head of 'Shin Bet', the country's internal security service, promising to hunt down Hamas leaders in Lebanon, Turkey, and Qatar. In Iran, two explosions on Wednesday, January 3, during a memorial ceremony for Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, which left dozens dead and injured, have added to concerns about rising violence across the region. The U.S. and French foreign ministers emphasized the importance of minimizing civilian casualties in Gaza during their discussions. Blinken and Colonna also talked about the necessity of international coordination to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza. According to 'Times of Israel', prior to Hamas's attack on Israel, about 500 trucks of humanitarian aid were entering Gaza daily, mainly through the 'Karem Shalom' crossing. After the attack, Israel allowed aid to enter Gaza only through the Rafah crossing in Egypt after inspecting each truck, but reopened the Karem Shalom crossing to facilitate aid delivery. Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region continue; two senior U.S. officials are heading to the Middle East. Biden's envoy is dispatched to the Middle East; the U.S. is working to reduce tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Concurrently with Israel's attacks on border areas in Syria and Lebanon, an armed drone was shot down over Erbil airport in Iraq. Israel is reducing its forces in Gaza; preparing for a potential wider conflict with Hezbollah. Ongoing tensions and insecurity in the Red Sea have led to a 'slight increase' in oil prices.