In the midst of the intensifying war in the Gaza Strip, a top commander of the Iranian Army's Elite Quds Force has contacted the Palestinian Hamas Movement. Commander Esmail Qaani reportedly sent a letter to Hamas Commander Mohammed Deif in which he assured the latter that Tehran would do "whatever it takes" to help Hamas in its ongoing war with Israel. Earlier, the local media in West Asia reported that Commander Deif was one of the chief masterminds of Operation Al Aqsa Flood or the October 7 (2023) terror attacks in Israel. Interestingly, Commander Qaani contacted the Palestinian outfit soon after Supreme Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei informed Hamas that Iran would not directly join the war.
The 'Shall Not Fight' Snub Of The Ayatollah
In the third week of November (2023), Khamenei discussed different aspects of the ongoing war with Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh. Reuters reported on November 15 that the Supreme Leader informed Haniyeh that the Islamic Republic would not directly join the Israel-Hamas War. During their meeting in Tehran, Khamenei said that Iran made a final decision in this regard after considering the current regional geopolitical landscape.
اسماعیل هنیه
Meanwhile, experts are of the opinion that Khamenei's remarks are significant. It seems that Tehran has realised that the involvement of other nations in the war would only spread it across the region. As a longtime ally of Hamas, Iran wants to help the Palestinian outfit in a different way. Hence, Khamenei reportedly told Haniyeh that Tehran would continue to lend the group its political and moral support.
According to sources close to the Iranian and Hamas officials, the Supreme Iranian Leader further advised Haniyeh not to publicly urge Iran and (its Lebanese ally) Hezbollah to join the war against Israel. However, Hamas mentioned in a statement on Telegram that Khamenei did not give any such advice to Haniyeh.
Earlier in November, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accused the US of "encouraging" Israel to kill innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He also blasted the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) for targeting Palestinian children and women, stressing: "The aid from the US to the Zionist regime (Israel) is encouraging them to kill and commit cruel acts of neglect against the Palestinian people." President Raisi also urged the Islamic World to join hands against the US-sponsored Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, the Iranian President stated: "We believe that the bombings must stop as soon as possible, that a ceasefire must be declared immediately and that aid be provided to the oppressed and proud people of Gaza." Raisi added: "These horrible crimes against humanity are a genocide, which is carried out by the Zionist regime with the support of the US and certain European countries."
Tehran Goes Hypersonic
Iran unveiled a new improved hypersonic (the speed that exceeds five times the speed of sound) missile on November 19, claiming that it could easily evade Air Defence Systems of enemies! It is feared that the Israel-Iran conflict may reach a new level after this development in spite of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's claim that Iran would not directly join the Israel-Hams War.
The Iranian Army unveiled the Fattah II hypersonic missile at a military exhibition in Tehran in the presence of the Supreme Leader. As per local media reports, the missile has already been handed over to the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, a special force of the Iranian Army. According to Iranian State Media, Fattah II, with a range of 1,400km, is capable of disrupting Anti-Missile Defence Systems of enemies. The design of this new missile will also help it manoeuvre and hit targets, without being detected. It may be noted that Tehran tested the missile for the first time in June 2023.
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