Israel has withdrawn its troops from Southern Gaza, including the city of Khan Yunis, following months of intense fighting with Hamas militants that left the area in ruins.

News ToGo reports that according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli media, the 98th commando division concluded its mission in Khan Yunis and left the Gaza Strip for rest and preparation for future operations.

However, a significant force, led by the 162nd division and the Nahal brigade, will remain in Gaza to maintain the IDF’s operational capabilities.

“The 98th commando division has concluded its mission in Khan Yunis. The division left the Gaza Strip in order to recuperate and prepare for future operations,” stated the IDF.

Regarding the withdrawal, an army official told Haaretz, “there’s no need for us to remain in the sector without an [operational] need. The 98th division dismantled Hamas’s Khan Yunis brigades and killed thousands of its members. We did everything we could there.”

Displaced Palestinians from Khan Yunis may now have the opportunity to return home after taking refuge in Rafah. However, the IDF official noted that the army “will continue to operate there according to the operational needs.”

Khan Yunis, once densely populated, has suffered extensive damage due to months of intense fighting, leaving large parts of the city in rubble.

The conflict in Gaza began with a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in casualties on both sides. According to official figures, 1,170 Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, were killed in the attacks. The Palestinian territory saw a much higher death toll, with at least 33,175 people killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all led by military regimes, are moving forward with plans to establish a confederation, according to an announcement from the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday.

News ToGo reports that this move deepens ties among the three countries through an alliance that challenges broader West African integration efforts.

On January 28, the military administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger declared their withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS. They emphasized that this decision was a “sovereign” one and stated their intent to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay.”

Further solidifying their stance, the leader of Niger’s military junta, Abdourahamane Tchiani, reiterated on Monday that none of the three Sahel nations would seek to rejoin the regional bloc.

At a gathering in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, the ministers from the three countries confirmed their joint commitment to depart from ECOWAS promptly and continue their collaboration under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The Malian foreign ministry shared that they “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing resolutely in the process of implementing the AES and creating the Tri-State Confederation.”

Details regarding the functioning of the proposed confederation have not yet been disclosed, including plans for alignment in political, economic, and security matters. These countries are grappling with a decade-long battle against Islamist insurgents that has caused instability in the subregion.

In November, their finance ministers mentioned considering the establishment of a monetary union, and officials from all three nations have expressed varying levels of support for moving away from the West African CFA franc common currency.

These military-led governments have severed longstanding military ties with France, their former colonial ruler. This move has diminished France’s influence in the Sahel region and complicated international efforts to combat militants associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

France has reacted after the Niger Coup leaders cut ties with it.

News ToGo learned that France rejected the Niger junta’s move to terminate bilateral military agreements, asserting that only the country’s “legitimate” leadership has the authority to do so. The French foreign ministry stated that their defense agreement with Niger is based on accords signed with the recognized Nigerien authorities, disregarding the junta’s actions.

The military junta in Niger, which took power after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023, severed ties with France, Nigeria, and other nations following the failure of peace talks initiated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS delegation aimed to engage in dialogue with the junta to restore constitutional order, and while the initial contacts were positive, the situation eventually escalated.

Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, speaking on behalf of the junta, announced the revocation of several military cooperation agreements with France dating back to 1977. The junta further suspended the broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets, France 24 and RFI, earlier on the same day. The French foreign ministry condemned this move.

Amid these developments, locals have accused France of interfering in their affairs, as the former colonial ruler maintains significant ties with the region. Nevertheless, there has been no immediate response from France regarding the junta’s actions.

In response to the coup in Niger, the Chairman of the ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, met with fellow regional leaders to discuss ways to restore democracy in the country. The ECOWAS leaders considered implementing sanctions against the military personnel involved in the overthrow of the elected government.

The situation remains fluid, and the actions of the Niger junta and France will continue to be closely monitored, as diplomatic relations and military agreements between the two nations are crucial issues that can impact regional stability and security.