Although Tehran has long supported Hamas, Iranian officials insist 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 tell 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 wary of Iran, but its leaders have warned Tehran in no uncertain terms against intervening in the war.
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he “made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful”.
H. Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon from Iraq. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group, said on Wednesday it had fired rockets into Israel, which 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 purchase 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 restricted the import of goods to and from the territory 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.
#Iran #opening #front #Israel #depend #actions #Gaza #Strip
How has Iran’s historical support for Hamas influenced its current claim of non-involvement in the recent attacks on Israel?
**[Interviewer]:** Welcome to our program. Today, we’re discussing the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel. Joining us is Dr. Amir Khalil, an expert in Middle Eastern politics. Thank you for being here, Dr. Khalil.
**[Dr. Khalil]:** Thank you for having me.
**[Interviewer]:** Let’s start with the dynamics between Iran and Hamas. While Iran has long been a supporter of Hamas, officials have stated they were not involved in the recent attacks. How credible is this assertion, given Iran’s history of backing militant groups?
**[Dr. Khalil]:** It’s a complex situation. Iran has indeed provided military and financial support to Hamas in the past, which complicates their claim of non-involvement. However, it’s not unusual for a state to provide support to groups while distancing itself from specific operations, especially when those operations might escalate tensions with powerful adversaries like Israel and the United States. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, has remarked that the future actions depend largely on Israel’s conduct in Gaza, further indicating how they are attempting to navigate this crisis without being directly implicated [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html)].
**[Interviewer]:** Speaking of tensions, the U.S. is concerned about a possible second front opening with Hezbollah in Lebanon. What does this mean for regional stability?
**[Dr. Khalil]:** A second front opens the possibility of a much wider conflict. Hezbollah has already launched rockets into Israel, which could signal its willingness to engage directly. The U.S. fears that this could draw in more regional actors and escalate military responses. Abdollahian’s remarks about regional actors seeking clarity on Iran’s intentions underscore how nervous the international community is about this potential worsening of the conflict [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html)].
**[Interviewer]:** Last week’s conflict saw a significant loss of life on both sides. How does this impact future negotiations or peace efforts in the region?
**[Dr. Khalil]:** The high casualty figures can harden positions on both sides, making compromise more difficult. In past conflicts, heavy losses have often led to cycles of retaliation. The Israeli government’s response to these attacks will likely be framed as a need for deterrence but could also provoke further violence if Hezbollah decides to escalate its response [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html)].
**[Interviewer]:** President Biden recently warned Iran to “be careful.” What does such rhetoric indicate about U.S. foreign policy?
**[Dr. Khalil]:** This reflects a classic approach of deterrence. The U.S. is signaling to Iran that any further involvement or aggression could lead to dire consequences. The message is intended to maintain a level of stability while discouraging actions that could spiral out of control [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html)].
**[Interviewer]:** Thank you, Dr. Khalil, for your insights into this critical and evolving situation.
**[Dr. Khalil]:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital we keep discussing these issues as they develop.