Understanding the financial and military support that Tehran provides to these terror groups is crucial.
Understanding the financial and military support that Tehran provides to these terror groups is crucial.
Modi’in, Israel — What’s unfolding in Israel now will mark a paradigm shift in the history of the state, which is facing an unprecedented and coordinated assault. The unfolding carnage caused by Gaza-based terror groups led by the Iran-backed Hamas has resulted in 150 Israelis confirmed dead, with over 1,000 more injured. Dozens have been abducted and taken into Gaza, including women and infants, and entire Israeli towns have been overrun and captured.
The enormous attack coincides with the somber 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, widely regarded as the closest Israel ever came to annihilation. The uncoincidental timing is a clear psychological-warfare tactic, aiming to evoke deeply rooted generational traumas prevalent among many Israelis and signify the revival of the campaign to destroy Israel. Although the conflict is still in its early stages, it’s crucial to understand and analyze the factors that led to this juncture.
While it might be tempting to attribute the onslaught solely to the speculated Israeli–Saudi peace deal, as I myself initially presumed, that agreement serves more as a catalyst than the core reason for the attacks. Operations of this scale require meticulous planning over months. The undeniable truth is that while terrorists on the ground are the ones pulling the trigger, the Islamic Republic of Iran is directly orchestrating events from behind the scenes.
Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, there’s been a transformative wind sweeping across the Middle East, which threatens to upset the established power dynamics, particularly for Iran. Perceiving the potential Israeli–Saudi peace deal as a direct challenge to its hegemonic ambitions, Iran very likely made the bold decision to seize the opportunity and mobilize its terror proxies in Gaza.
In light of this backdrop, understanding the financial and military support that Iran provides to these terror groups becomes crucial.
Hamas, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization founded in 1987, receives approximately $100 million per year from Iran. Their arsenal, bolstered by Iranian support, includes light arms, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, drones, and both short- and long-range unguided rockets. Islamic Jihad, another U.S.-designated FTO, receives tens of millions of dollars from Iran. Their weaponry, similar to Hamas, includes light arms, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, drones, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, and both short- and long-range unguided rockets.
Iran’s support for the renewed Hamas aggression was on full display in its early hours. According to Reuters, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Yahya Rahim Safavi, congratulated Palestinian fighters for their attacks on Israel, underscoring Iran’s commitment to stand by the Palestinian fighters until the “liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.” This sentiment was further echoed by Iranian parliament members who chanted “Death to Israel” and proclaimed the victory of Palestine.
The Biden administration’s approach to Iran has further complicated the situation. Despite the glaring evidence of Iran’s malicious intent in the region, the administration’s efforts to reintegrate Iran into the international political order through a renewed nuclear deal is a grave strategic misstep. This approach not only disregards the security concerns of U.S. allies in the Middle East, such as Israel, but also strengthens a regime that has consistently sponsored terrorism.
Furthermore, America’s decision to give Iran access to at least $16 billion, including $6 billion held in South Korea as part of a much-maligned prisoner exchange deal and another $10 billion held in Iraq, has been criticized by many as bolstering Iran and its proxies.
The Biden administration’s efforts to integrate Iran into the region signify a shift in strategy from the confrontational days of the Trump administration, when Iran was significantly weakened, back to the era of appeasement exhibited by President Obama. This change, combined with the easing of sanctions on Iran, has emboldened the Iranian regime, enabling it to advance its nuclear objectives and sponsor terrorism.
The current aggression from Gaza toward Israel is not a mere impulsive act. It’s a calculated move shaped by historical, political, and economic factors. As we brace for the challenging days ahead, it’s imperative to acknowledge the underlying causes, with Iran’s involvement being paramount. The world, starting with the Biden administration, must discern the reality in the tumultuous Middle East. In such a volatile region, clarity is paramount.