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 for our 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. 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
What potential consequences could arise from Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict between Hamas and Israel?
**Interview with Dr. Sarah Khatami, Middle East Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Khatami. There’s a lot of concern about the situation following the recent attack by Hamas on Israel and Iran’s involvement. Can you clarify Iran’s stance based on the latest developments?
**Dr. Khatami:** Certainly. Iranian officials have been quite adamant that while they support Hamas politically and militarily, they explicitly deny any direct involvement in the recent militant attacks on Israel. This statement aligns with Tehran’s ongoing narrative of operating as a backer rather than an executor of such operations. Yet, the intricacies of their support remain controversial, especially as Iran has historically provided significant assistance to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/politics/document-iran-hamas-weapons/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** Recently, U.S. officials expressed fears of a potential second front against Israel involving Hezbollah. How serious do you consider this threat?
**Dr. Khatami:** Very serious. The potential involvement of Hezbollah could escalate the conflict significantly. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that the decisions to open new fronts depend largely on Israel’s actions in Gaza. This indicates that Iran is positioning itself to respond to Israel’s military moves, which raises tensions across the region [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/politics/document-iran-hamas-weapons/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** What implications do these developments have for U.S. policy in the region?
**Dr. Khatami:** The U.S. has conveyed strong warnings to Iran regarding its involvement, with President Biden stating, “Be careful.” This reflects a broader strategy to deter Iran from expanding its military engagement and assures regional allies of American support. However, the situation is precarious; any miscalculation could lead to wider hostilities that would draw in various regional actors [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/politics/document-iran-hamas-weapons/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** What are the broader implications for regional stability?
**Dr. Khatami:** The current dynamics are alarming. Iran has called for unity among Islamic and Arab countries to counter what they describe as “Zionist crimes.” Such rhetoric can further inflame sentiments and encourage militant responses, potentially destabilizing not just Israel but Lebanon and beyond. Ongoing violence and retaliatory actions could easily spiral out of control, leading to a regional conflict that many are desperate to avoid [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/politics/document-iran-hamas-weapons/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Khatami, for your insights on this volatile situation. It’s a complex scenario that warrants careful observation.
**Dr. Khatami:** Thank you for having me. It’s definitely a critical time for Middle Eastern geopolitics.