Although Tehran has long supported Hamas, Iranian officials say their country was not involved in Saturday’s militant attack on its arch-enemy, Israel.
Nevertheless, the United States fears that a second front could open up on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon if Hezbollah, another well-armed Islamist group backed by Iran, intervenes.
“Officials from some countries are approaching us and asking about the possibility of a new front opening (against Israel) in the region,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani. Shia Sudan).
“We are telling them that our clear answer regarding future options is this: everything depends on the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza,” he said, according to a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry.
“Even now, Israel’s crimes continue, and no one in the region asks us for permission to open new fronts,” the minister said.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, invading its territory and launching rocket attacks. Israel carried out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip. Hamas militants killed 1.2 thousand people in Israel. people, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages. Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip claimed more than 1,400 lives. people’s lives.
Since Saturday, the West has been cautious about Iran, but its leaders have warned Tehran in no uncertain terms against intervening in the war.
US President Joe Biden (Joe Biden) said on Wednesday that he “made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful”.
H. Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon from Iraq. The Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had fired rockets into Israel, which had shelled southern Lebanon.
There were similar reports earlier this week.
Speaking to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi appealed to “all Islamic and Arab countries” for “serious convergence and cooperation to stop the Zionist regime’s crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people.”
Hamas is the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and has been involved in several wars with Israel since taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007. The group has been recognized as a terrorist by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and some other countries.
Hamas is supported by Iran, financing the acquisition of weapons, supplying them and providing military training. Hamas has a political office in Qatar, where some of its leaders are based.
2.3 million people live in the Gaza Strip. people, but Israel, with the help of Egypt, has imposed a blockade on the territory since 2007 – it has restricted the entry of goods into the territory and their departure from it by water, sea or air, as well as the ability of the Palestinians themselves to leave the territory, except for a few tens of thousands of workers.
Israel’s military announced earlier Thursday that it was preparing for a ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but the country’s political leaders have yet to make a decision.
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#Iran #opening #front #Israel #depend #actions #Gaza #Strip
What are the implications of Iran’s denial of involvement in the recent Hamas attack on Israel for its role in Middle East geopolitics?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah McAlister, Middle East Policy Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. McAlister. Let’s start with the recent developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Iranian officials have stated that Iran was not involved in the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. What does this signify in terms of Iran’s influence in the region?
**Dr. McAlister:** Thank you for having me. Iran’s denial of involvement in the Hamas attack is significant as it attempts to distance itself from direct responsibility while still supporting the broader Palestinian cause. This could reflect Iran’s strategy to avoid further escalation and to maintain its influence as a backer of militant groups without inciting a direct confrontation with Israel or the U.S.
**Editor:** Indeed, tensions are rising. The U.S. is concerned about Hezbollah potentially opening a second front against Israel. Do you think that Hezbollah will intervene in this conflict?
**Dr. McAlister:** It’s difficult to predict with certainty. Hezbollah has a vested interest in the conflict due to its ideological commitment to the Palestinian cause and its rivalry with Israel. However, they also have to consider the potential consequences of engaging further—a multifront conflict could stretch their resources thin and lead to severe retaliation from Israel.
**Editor:** Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian mentioned that future actions depend on the “actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza.” How do you interpret this statement?
**Dr. McAlister:** Abdollahian’s statement underscores that Iran is framing its potential response within the context of Israeli military actions in Gaza. It suggests that Iran could escalate its involvement if it perceives that Israel’s actions warrant such a response. It also implies that Iran sees itself as a defender of Palestinian rights, which resonates strongly within their domestic and regional narrative.
**Editor:** The situation is certainly evolving, with increasing calls for Islamic and Arab unity from Iran’s leadership. How do you foresee the regional dynamics changing in light of these developments?
**Dr. McAlister:** The rhetoric from Iran calling for unity among Islamic and Arab nations indicates a potential consolidation of support for the Palestinian cause, which could rally more groups in the region. However, the level of cooperation among these nations varies significantly. Some countries may be sympathetic but are also wary of provoking a broader conflict, especially given the interests of the U.S. and Israel.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. McAlister, for your insights on this complex situation. It’s a rapidly evolving story, and your expertise helps us understand the implications of these developments.
**Dr. McAlister:** Thank you for having me, and I look forward to seeing how the situation unfolds.
