Israel-Hamas conflict: Iran hints at 'new front' in Hamas war pending Israel's actions

Baghdad, October 13: Iran's Foreign Minister, whose government has a history of supporting Hamas and other Middle Eastern militant groups, suggested on Thursday that the possibility of opening a "new front" against Israel would be contingent on Israel's actions in Gaza. While Tehran has been a long-standing supporter of Hamas, Iranian officials have consistently denied involvement in the recent attack by militants on Israel, its arch-nemesis.

Nonetheless, the United States expresses concerns about the potential opening of a second front along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, should Hezbollah, another heavily armed Islamist group backed by Iran, decide to intervene. During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated, "Officials of some countries contact us and ask about the possibility of a new front (against Israel) being opened in the region."

He added, "We tell them that our clear answer regarding future possibilities is that everything depends on the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza," according to a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry. Amir-Abdollahian emphasized, "Even now, Israel's crimes continue, and no one in the region asks us for permission to open new fronts."

Subsequently, Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where he was welcomed by Hezbollah and Hamas, along with other pro-Iran groups. He is slated to meet with Lebanese officials on Friday before proceeding to Damascus.

Speaking from Beirut's airport, the Iranian diplomat underscored that Iran's regional allies, known as the "axis of resistance," could respond if Israel's offensive in Gaza escalates. He stated, "The continuation of war crimes against Palestinians and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axes." Notably, Hamas militants caused the deaths of at least 1,200 Israelis, foreigners, and dual citizens during their attack on Saturday, while health officials in Gaza reported 1,417 Palestinians killed by Israel's retaliatory barrages on the coastal enclave.

Since Saturday, the international community has been circumspect about Iran's role in the conflict, but its leaders have issued stark warnings to Tehran against getting involved in the war. U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized, "I have made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful."

Following his visit to Iraq, Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon, where Hezbollah, until now, has chosen not to participate in the conflict initiated by its ally, Hamas. During a call with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi appealed on Wednesday to "all the Islamic and Arab countries" to "reach serious convergence and cooperation on the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation."

- With inputs from agencies

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