The Israeli military has reduced its ground troops in the southern Gaza Strip following the conclusion of its operation in Khan Younis, with the 98th commando division being pulled out to prepare for future operations. The Nahal brigade and the 162nd division remain in Gaza, and the move comes amid mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal, and uncertainty about Israel's plans for a ground offensive in Rafah.
Russian officials are relishing the division in NATO after French President Macron's suggestion of deploying Western ground troops in Ukraine was widely rejected by NATO member countries. The Kremlin warned that such a move would lead to conflict between NATO and Russia, while Russian state-run media has been dominated by officials relishing the obvious division in NATO. Macron's comments have been criticized by Russian officials, and analysts have described them as a gift to the Kremlin, with concerns that they could be exploited by Russia's propaganda machine. France has sought to clarify its position, emphasizing the need to avoid escalation and stating that it is not at war with the Russian people.
French President Macron's suggestion of potentially sending ground troops into Ukraine has sparked outrage in Russia, with officials warning of a possible conflict between Russia and NATO. However, European allies, including Germany, the U.K., and Spain, have quickly denied any plans to deploy troops to Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also stated that there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine, emphasizing the alliance's support for Ukraine without committing to sending ground troops.
