The war on Israel by the Palestinian Islamic resistance organization Hamas was the result of long planning.[1] Iran has been leading the cause of eliminating Israel, on the ideological and operational levels, since the founding of the Islamic Revolution regime in 1979, and has been working tirelessly to achieve this goal by means of the resistance axis it has built. Iran's political and military leadership has encouraged and expressed pride in the recent massacre of Israelis carried out by the militants of the Palestinian resistance organizations, which the Iranian regime cultivated, and is calling on them to continue it.
Hamas is an integral part of the Iran's Islamic resistance axis, alongside the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Shi'ite militias in Syria, the Golan and Iraq and the Houthi Ansar Allah militia in Yemen. It is Iran that founded these organizations, and is training, arming and funding them and providing them with political and organizational support. Iranian officials, both political leaders and military commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its Qods Force, meet on a regular basis with the leaders and commanders of the resistance axis in Tehran, Beirut, Damascus and throughout the region. (Upcoming MEMRI reports will discuss this in detail).
Iran showcased and continues to showcase the weapons it has developed to achieve this aim, including long- and mid-range missiles (emblazoned with their intended targets: Israel or the Jews), the suicide-drone array, cyberwarfare capabilities to disrupt infrastructure, and more (as will be discussed in an upcoming MEMRI report).
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – who for years has been calling for Israel's destruction from every available podium and predicting its imminent demise, and has even set out a time frame for this (indicated by digital clock in a central Tehran that counts down to the destruction of Israel in 2040), Khamenei who armed Gaza with rockets (as will be discussed in upcoming MEMRI reports below) and also instructed to arm the West Bank in 2014, an instruction that his operatives are carrying out – openly applauded the latest massacre carried out by his Palestinian resistance forces against Israelis. Yet on October 10 he was quick to deny any responsibility for this massacre, for fear of incurring international criticism, and instead hid behind the Palestinian resistance and the Palestinians, of which he is "proud."
But while Khamenei denies Iran's responsibility for Hamas' acts of carnage, articles published by the mouthpieces of his regime have exposed the close ties that prevailed between slain Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani and the leaders of the Islamic resistance organizations that Iran has built, and the guidelines and five-year plan Soleimani formulated with these commanders, as they themselves now admit. The regime's mouthpiece Kayhan claims that Hamas' murderous attack on Israel was based on a plan drawn up by Soleimani in January 2020. "Today it emerges that [Soleimani's] powers of planning and operational strategy were boundless," writes Kayhan, because on January 2, 2020, just one day before he was assassinated, Soleimani outlined "the future plan for the resistance factions and the way they would interact with one another," and dictated to the leaders of the resistance organizations "the charter for the next five years." Kayhan adds proudly that "the unity of the resistance factions based on this five-year charter is the fruit of Soleimani's martyrdom and part of the resistance factions' harsh revenge."
The daily also claims that Khamenei himself hinted at the great victory already in August 2022, and in August 2023 he heralded the upcoming operation, which clearly indicates that he was aware of the Iranian plans to carry out this massacre. Kayhan states: "The significance is that, last year, the Leader [Khamenei] gave 'the promise of the imminent conquest,' and this year he gave 'the announcement of the complete conquest,' and Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is part of this imminent conquest. This promise and announcement, along with the clarity and power of [Khamenei's] statements and positions in his meeting [with leaders and ambassadors of Islamic countries] on the occasion of the Prophet [Muhammad's] birthday, have profound significance and content."[2]
Further evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the planning the attack on Israel, specifically in planning an attack from the north as well as the south, are reports by Arab sources that IRGC forces in the Deir Al-Zor area in Syria are preparing to redeploy in the Quneitra region on Syria's border with Israel.
Iran is now aiding Hamas in the crucial area of influencing global public opinion. The Iranian regime's mouthpieces justify Hamas' war crimes, massacres and atrocities against Israelis as a response to "the crimes of the occupation," to alleged acts of murdering and torturing Palestinian children "in order to prevent them from joining [Iran's] resistance axis" and to Israel's alleged aggression against Al-Aqsa.
This report focuses on Iran's behind-the-scenes ties to Hamas, which is part of its resistance axis.
Regime Mouthpiece Kayhan: In His Last Meeting With Resistance Commanders, Qods Force Commander Soleimani "Outlined The Future Plan For The Resistance Factions And The Way They Would Interact With One Another… The Unity Of The Resistance Factions Based On This Five-Year Charter Is The Fruit Of Soleimani's Martyrdom And Part Of The Resistance Factions' Harsh Revenge "; "All The Zionists Who Live In Occupied Palestine Are Armed Usurpers. Even Their Children Are Trained From A Very Young Age… To Terrorize The Palestinian People… Israel Is One Big [Military] Base. Anyone Living In This Base Is Not A Civilian But A Soldier. In Israel There Is No Such Thing As Civilians"
In an October 10, 2023 article titled "[Operation] Al-Aqsa Flood Is the Beginning Of The End Of [Israel's] 75-Year Occupation," the Iranian regime mouthpiece Kayhan stated that a plan for Israel's destruction, formulated and organized by Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani and dictated by him to the commanders of the resistance organizations just before his assassination by the U.S. in January 2020, has begun to be implemented. Kayhan in fact clarified that Khamenei was party to the plan and hinted twice that a great victory was on the horizon. The following is a translation of the article:
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"We said in the past that the stories about the martyr [Soleimani] transcend time and place, but today it emerges that his powers of planning and operational strategy were boundless. In the last meeting he held before he was martyred, Soleimani spent [seven hours], from 8:00 until 15:00, outlining the future plan for all the resistance factions and the way they would interact with one another. What the resistance factions found unusual in that meeting was that Hajj Qassem [Soleimani] stressed that everybody had to write down [what he said]. 'Write down what I say, [he insisted]. I am outlining the charter for the next five years!' The unity of the resistance factions based on this five-year charter is the fruit of Soleimani's martyrdom and part of the resistance factions' harsh revenge.
"Certain symbols and slogans in ceremonies attended by leaders and heads of state convey important messages and show that there are developments behind the scenes. In August 2022, the verse 'victory from Allah and an imminent conquest' [Quran 61:13] was hung on the wall of the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya [Shi'ite religious center], and in August 2023 the verse 'Truly, We granted you a manifest victory' [Quran 48:1] was hung on the same wall. The significance is that, last year, the Leader [Khamenei] gave 'the promise of the imminent conquest,' and this year he gave 'the announcement of the complete conquest,' and Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is part of this imminent conquest. This promise and announcement, along with the clarity and power of [Khamenei's] statements and positions in this meeting [with leaders and ambassadors of Islamic countries] on the occasion of the Prophet [Muhammad's] birthday, have profound significance and content, which strategists and analysts in the region and the world will take seriously.
"Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which is unprecedented since the Six Day war and the 1973 war, is important in many ways. On the one hand, it evidently did not resemble the conflicts and wars of the past and gave Israel a historic shock. On the other hand, each [aspect of it] will need to be analyzed separately in the future, but for now we will address some of them, that will be disected by analysts and strategists in the region and the world , including by think tanks of the Pentagon, the CIA and the U.S. State Department, for months and maybe years!
"First, this operation was unique in terms of the powerful planning and coordination between [Iran's] resistance factions, [for] it was carried out in 30 minutes in an occupied area three times larger than the Gaza Strip [itself], so that, for several hours, all the countries and politicians [in the world] could do nothing but watch the events in silence. Hours later, reactions came from all over the world, which showed that the Zionist regime has no defense strategy whereas the resistance groups have a powerful offensive strategy.
"Second, this operation is important in terms of the resistance factions' intelligence superiority and the intelligence weakness of the Zionist regime and all the American and Western intelligence agencies. It is a shameful failure for the Mossad, the Israel Security Agency, the CIA, MI6, etc. So much so that Israel's defense minister admitted, after the [Israeli] cabinet's security meeting in Tel Aviv, that [Israel had been] surprised, and they were not even able to coordinate with their media how to cover the news and censor it. So, in the early hours and the first day [of the operation], the Western and Hebrew media, which admitted to being surprised, could do nothing but provide live coverage of the heavy fatalities, without any [other] specific news.
"Even the Zionist media was compelled to report that the number of people killed, wounded and captured was rising from moment to moment, which was itself an informational victory in terms of the coverage of the resistance factions' successful operation. According to the Zionist expert on Iran International, all [the aspects of the operation] surprised them. 'We were all surprised and were in a horrible state!' The same conclusion was drawn by the Zionist generals, of course, who admitted that 'we are nearing the terrible scenario of a war on multiple fronts'! But they were unable to comprehend the time-frame, location and manner [of the operation], and that is why Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was beyond anything they could have imagined…
"Third, this operation was unprecedented in terms of the scope of the fire, the rocket attacks, the range and the combination of ground, air and maritime [forces], and in terms of the cyber and electronic warfare and infiltration. So much so that the images circulated – of resistance factions penetrating the Israeli localities through the border tunnel, of the ongoing presence of some resistance fighters wearing uniforms of the Zionist army within the Zionist settlements, and of the severe losses and damage – sowed fear and terror among the Zionists.
"The takeover of some part of the occupied territories [i.e., Israel] and of some Zionist towns and villages, the fighting on the ground in the streets of Israel, etc., broke the taboo around [the possibility of] liberating Jerusalem and showed that the Zionist regime is very porous and vulnerable despite the claims and the impression created around the Iron Dome [missile defense system]. The liberation of Palestine is not a myth or a slogan, but can actually be achieved…
"Fourth, [the operation] has political aspects and many powerful strategic implications for all the developments in the region and the world, including 'the consolidation and cementing of the power balance' in favor of the resistance axis, the instances of 'normalization,' 'the expansion of relations among regional countries,' 'the acceleration of multilateralism,' 'the decline and weakening of America's hegemony' in the world and especially in the region, the 'American elections,' 'the developments, tension and disputes within Israel,' 'the developments in the Caucasus,' the countries that were deceived by Israel and regarded this regime as an ally, and even 'the nuclear talks and the nuclear agreement,' although the spokesperson of the U.S. State Department claimed that 'this has nothing to do with the attack on Israel.'
"The analysis of these implications requires time. This operation was so surprising, quick and large-scale, and had such unexpected implications for the West, that it immediately impacted Europe. All the international flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled, and America and the countries of Europe expressed great concern and announced the 'tightening of security measures' in those countries.
"Fifth, [the operation] exposed 'the [danger of] betting on normalization,' 'the lesson [to be drawn from] betting on the losing horse [Israel],' and indicated 'how soon' the Zionist regime will be gone. It showed that the Zionists experienced 'certain death' within half an hour!
"Sixth, in addition to the traditional and consistent support extended by the White House, Europe and the UN Secretary-General to the child-murdering Zionist regime, and although they purport to [defend] human rights, [America and its allies] have kept silent about the Zionists' brutal attacks on the Palestinian people for over 70 years. [But] today various countries, nations and groups in the region and the world, and especially some regional countries that [until now] kept silent due to the threats and enticements of the Zionist regime and America, have expressed significant support for this operation…
"Seventh, the resistance groups announced that 'what we wanted was for the enemy and its settlers to leave our land peacefully. This did not happen, so war is the only option.' All the Zionists living in occupied Palestine are armed usurpers. Even their children are trained from a very young age in training camps to terrorize the Palestinian people, and are tools for creating a fake government and for occupying the Palestinian land. Israel is one big [military] base, so anyone living in this base is not a civilian but a soldier. In Israel there is no such thing as civilians!"
"Eighth, in addition to the dimensions and scope [of the operation], the message of the commander of Hamas' military wing indicates that the resistance was not looking for a short operation of several hours, but seeks to deliver a powerful blow to the Zionist regime in [this] new round. The fact that the martyr Soleimani set out the charter of the resistance groups for five years was certainly wise!
"As the American host on Manoto TV admitted, [current Qods Force commander Esmail] Qaani warned the Israelis to sell their homes and leave! Therefore, we must continue to expect promising events and even greater victories! This is especially in light of the extermination of some 750 [Zionists] and the capture of hundreds of Zionists, who can be a good source of information for future operations and a useful means of liberating Palestinian prisoners! The spokesman of Hamas' military wing informed [the Israelis] that 'the number of prisoners is several times larger than you think, and you should wait and count your soldiers properly!'"
Report On An Intention To Transfer Iranian IRGC Forces From Syria's Deir Al-Zour To Quneitra On The Isael-Syria Border
According to an "exclusive" report on the Deirezzor24 Telegram channel, which covers the Deir Al-Zour region in northeastern Syria, the IRGC Command in Deir Al-Zour Governorate informed several of its senior officials that it intends to dispatch several IRGC members to Quneitra Governorate. The channel noted that, during the recent fighting between Gaza and Israel, IRGC commanders received direct orders from Iran to transfer some of their members from Deir Al-Zour to Quneitra. It also stated that, since the Israeli attack on the Deir Al-Zour Governorate “ten days ago,” and the recent events in the region of the Gaza Strip, the Iran-backed militias in Deir Al-Zour have been on alert.[3]
It should be noted that, since the start of the fighting, various Iran-backed Shi'ite groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain have vowed to support Hamas and the Palestinian factions which have joined the fighting against Israel, and have even expressed willingness to take an active part in the fighting.
[1] Early on Saturday morning (October 7, 2023), Hamas launched a well-organized coordinated surprise attack from the ground, sea and air on localities in a large area of southern Israel, while also firing thousands of rockets into Israeli cities in the south and the center, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as a diversion. As of this writing, over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, about 160 Israelis, including women, children, infants and elderly people as well as soldiers, have been taken hostage and thousands have been wounded.
[2] Kayhan (Iran), October 10, 2023.
[3] Deirezzor24.net, October 9, 2023.
