U.S. probes if Iran trained Hamas extensively.
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
3:05 PM – Wednesday, October 11, 2023
American authorities are investigating whether Hamas terrorists who launched a surprise attack on Israel received advanced instruction from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Furthermore, officials are investigating whether Hamas used Palestinian protests at the Gaza border fence as a cover to unknowingly plant explosives that were later used to breach the Israeli barrier.
If confirmed, this would be the latest evidence of Iran’s long-standing support for Hamas, providing funding, weapons, and advanced training to the militant group, according to current and former U.S. officials.
The current attack on Israel is more complex and significant than previous Hamas operations.
“Hamas could not be a fraction of the group that it is — neither a political, social or religious entity nor a terrorist and militant entity — without Iran’s financial support, provision of weapons and training,” said Matthew Levitt, a former senior official in the Treasury and State departments who worked on counterterrorism.
During a White House news conference on Tuesday, Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security expert, stated that Iran was “complicit” in the invasion on Israel, which has claimed the lives of over 1,000 Israelis.
“We’ve said since the beginning that Iran is complicit in a broad sense because they have provided the lion’s share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas, they’ve provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support,” Sullivan explained. “And they’ve had engagement and contact with Hamas over years and years, and all of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen.”
Sullivan also mentioned that the U.S. cannot currently confirm whether Iran was aware of the attacks on Israel beforehand or if the country assisted in planning or executing the surprise invasion.
Additionally, Levitt expressed skepticism that evidence of Iran’s direct involvement in the invasion would surface, as officials rarely give explicit commands for specific operations.
“That’s just not how these things work,” Levitt said.
A 2020 State Department report estimated that Iran provides Hamas with approximately $100 million per year.
According to former officials and analysts, Iran has also supplied technology that has enabled Hamas to build its own rocket arsenal in Gaza, based on Iranian blueprints from the past.
During the recent 11-day war with Israel in 2021, Hamas fired 4,000 rockets. With 2,500 rockets fired on Saturday, it appears their arsenal has grown even larger.
Hamas also used drones to attack military surveillance towers, disrupting border monitoring, and targeted cellular transmission stations to restrict communications.
Matthew Levitt claimed that Hamas focused on swarming multiple entry points on Israel’s border to puncture the nation’s sense of deterrence and security, with the goal of negotiating over hostages and drawing Israel into a land war.
“A lot of what Hamas is firing on Israel is based on Iranian technology, but it’s not necessarily Iranian-manufactured per se,” said Kenneth Katzman, a senior fellow at the Soufan Center, a nonprofit group focusing on global security issues and a former senior analyst with the Congressional Research Service. “Iran was transferring technology to Hamas for a very long time.”
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Is there concrete evidence proving Iran’s direct involvement in planning and executing the surprise attack on Israel, considering the covert nature of their support to Hamas
Title: Iran’s Support for Hamas Under Investigation in Israel’s Defense Against Surprising Attack
Introduction:
American authorities are currently investigating whether the recent surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists was aided by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Furthermore, officials are also scrutinizing whether Hamas militants exploited Palestinian protests at the Gaza border fence to strategically plant explosives used to breach the Israeli barrier. If proven true, these actions would provide further evidence of Iran’s long-standing support for Hamas, encompassing funding, weaponry, and advanced training.
Iran’s Contribution to Hamas:
According to both current and former U.S. officials, Iran has been a crucial benefactor to Hamas. The militant group relies heavily on Iran’s financial support, weapons, and training, making it impossible for Hamas to exist in its current form without Iran’s assistance. Matthew Levitt, a former senior official in the Treasury and State departments with expertise in counterterrorism, asserts that Hamas would not be a significant force without Iran’s aid. Levitt underscores the vital role Iran plays in Hamas’ political, social, and religious activities, as well as its strategic and militant endeavors.
Complicity of Iran and U.S. Response:
During a White House news conference, Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security expert, stated that Iran was “complicit” in the invasion of Israel. Sullivan highlighted Iran’s overwhelming contribution as the primary source of funding for Hamas’ military wing, in addition to providing training, capabilities, and support. While no confirmation has been made regarding Iran’s knowledge of the attacks in advance or direct involvement in planning and executing the invasion, Sullivan emphasizes Iran’s historical engagement and contact with Hamas.
Difficulty in Proving Direct Involvement:
Matthew Levitt expresses skepticism that explicit evidence of Iran’s direct involvement in the invasion will materialize. Levitt explains that officials rarely provide explicit commands, making it challenging to establish direct accountability for specific operations. The covert nature of such support from Iran makes it difficult to uncover concrete proof of their involvement.
Financial and Technological Support:
The State Department estimated that Iran provides Hamas with approximately $100 million annually. In addition to financial aid, Iran has supplied Hamas with technology, enabling the group to expand its rocket arsenal in Gaza. Hamas has been utilizing Iranian blueprints to build rockets, with their capability demonstrated during the recent 11-day war in 2021 when they fired 4,000 rockets. The recent surge saw 2,500 rockets launched on a single day, indicating the group’s growing arsenal. Hamas also employed drones to target military surveillance towers, disrupt border monitoring, and disable communication infrastructure.
Hamas’ Strategy:
According to Matthew Levitt, Hamas adopted a strategy of swarming multiple entry points along Israel’s border, aiming to puncture the nation’s sense of deterrence and security. Their objective is to initiate negotiations for the release of hostages and draw Israel into a land war. Kenneth Katzman, a senior fellow at the Soufan Center and former senior analyst with the Congressional Research Service, notes that while Hamas uses Iranian technology, it may not necessarily be Iranian-manufactured. Nonetheless, Iran has transferred technology to Hamas over an extended period.
Conclusion:
The investigation into Iran’s involvement in the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas is ongoing, reinforcing the long-standing association between these
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