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 role in supporting Hamas evolved in the context of the recent attacks, and what implications does this have for regional stability?
**Interviewer**: Today, we’re joined by Dr. Nabil Sharif, a Middle East expert and senior analyst at the International Relations Institute. Dr. Sharif, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Sharif**: Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer**: Let’s dive into the recent developments. We’ve seen a significant escalation with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, leading to massive casualties. Can you explain the broader implications of this situation for Iran and its role in the region?
**Dr. Sharif**: Certainly. While Iran has long supported Hamas, particularly in terms of military and logistical assistance, Iranian officials have publicly distanced themselves from the recent attacks, claiming that Iran was not directly involved. This assertion comes as tensions escalate in the region and the U.S. expresses concerns about a potential second front opening against Israel, particularly from Hezbollah in Lebanon [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/hamas-political-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer**: What are some of the specific responses from Iranian officials regarding their position in this conflict?
**Dr. Sharif**: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian indicated that any future escalation depends on Israel’s actions in Gaza. He emphasized that regional dynamics are fluid and warned that no one seeks Iran’s permission to take action against Israel. This statement underscores both the complexity and volatility of the situation [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/hamas-political-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer**: Given the high civilian casualties reported on both sides, what does this mean for international relations and potential U.S. involvement?
**Dr. Sharif**: The death toll has alarmed the international community, leading to increased scrutiny of Iran’s involvement. U.S. President Biden’s warning to Iran to “be careful” implies a willingness to take a proactive stance against any Iranian escalation [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/hamas-political-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-intl-hnk/index.html)]. Additionally, Iran’s support for groups like Hezbollah complicates any potential diplomatic resolutions and means we could see wider regional instability if these groups decide to act.
**Interviewer**: What should we be watching for in terms of developments with Hezbollah and the potential for the conflict to expand?
**Dr. Sharif**: We need to keep an eye on Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon, particularly after their recent rocket fire into Israel and subsequent Israeli responses. Analysts believe that if Hezbollah perceives a window of opportunity, or if Iran pushes them to act, we could see a significant escalation that might involve broader regional forces [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/hamas-political-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer**: These are critical issues. Thank you, Dr. Sharif, for your insights today.
**Dr. Sharif**: Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we keep discussing these developments as they evolve.
