Hamas Calls on Iran to Stop Attacks on Neighboring Countries as Conflict Widens
The Palestinian movement Hamas has urged Iran to halt its attacks on Arab countries, while calling the international community to work toward ending the ongoing war.
Hamas’ statement came as the US-Israeli war with Iran entered its third week amid a rising death toll and regional fears of a conflict spillover that could drag more countries into the crossfire.
Hamas’ Call
In a statement on Saturday, Hamas voiced “deep concern” over the current situation in the Middle East, condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran for violating international law and international humanitarian law and threatening security and stability in the region and the world.
The Palestinian group urged Tehran to stop targeting neighboring countries, while stressing Iran’s right to defend itself against US and Israeli strikes.
“While the movement affirms the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, it calls on its brothers in Iran not to target neighboring countries,” Hamas said.
Stopping the War
Hamas also called on regional governments and the international community to work towards bringing the war to an end. “The movement calls on all states and international organizations to work immediately to halt it,” the statement said.
“It also calls on all countries in the region to cooperate to stop this aggression and preserve the bonds of brotherhood among them,” it added.
Furthermore, the Palestinian group appreciated diplomatic efforts that aimed to prevent the escalation of tensions. “Hamas also expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by various countries to prevent the outbreak of war and to prioritize the language of dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement noted.
Hamas, which maintains close ties with Iran, previously condemned the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated in the first day of the war.
“He provided all forms of political, diplomatic and military support to our people, our cause, and our resistance,” Hamas said at the time, describing Khamenei’s killing as a “heinous crime.”
Iranian Strikes
In response to US and Israeli joint attack, Iran has targeted Israel and US assets in the region with barrages of missiles and drones that directly violated the sovereignty of several Arab States, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Oman. Iranian drones also hit Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2817, condemning Iran’s “egregious attacks” against Gulf countries and Jordan.
The resolution condemns “in the strongest terms” Iran’s attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan and reiterates its strong support for those countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.
It also condemns any actions or threats by Iran aimed at closing, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Conflict Expansion
The conflict raises fears of a wider regional confrontation as Iranian drones and missiles hit several neighboring countries. Moreover, Hezbollah has officially joined the fighting in solidarity with Iran, dragging Lebanon into the crossfire.
Hezbollah and Israel have been trading heavy military strikes, amid reports of an imminent Israeli ground operation. According to Axios, citing Israeli and US officials, the operation aims to seize the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
As of Friday, Israeli attacks have killed at least 773 people and wounded 1,933 others, including 103 children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Furthermore, the conflict has displaced around 800,000 Lebanese civilians.
Iran-aligned groups in Iraq have also intensified their attacks on US-affiliated targets. The US Embassy in Baghdad was hit by a missile on Saturday, reported the Associated Press (AP) citing two security officials.
A French soldier was killed and six others were wounded by a drone strike on Thursday. The strike hit a base in Erbil, serving as part of an international coalition against terrorism.
Additionally, six US service members aboard a refueling aircraft were confirmed dead after the place crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the incident was “not due to hostile fire,” although a pro-Iranian group claimed responsibility.
