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Iranian units at a large-scale exercise over the weekend

Photo: Iranian Army Office / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO

Israel intensifies its attacks on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. As a result, Iran is stepping up its threats against the democratic state.

President Ebrahim Raisi has threatened to involve more actors in the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel's "crimes" have "crossed the red lines," Raisi warned on Sunday on the online service X, formerly Twitter. This could "force everyone to take action."

Washington would "ask Tehran to do nothing," Raisi added. But they continue to support Israel across the board." Likewise, the U.S. has sent "messages to the Axis of Resistance," Raisi said.

The term is used by Iranian officials to refer to Tehran-backed militant organizations in other countries, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and other groups in Iraq and Syria.

According to Israeli sources, about 7,1400 people were killed and 229 people were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip in the large-scale attack launched on October <> by the militant Islamist Hamas.

In response, Israel sealed off the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip and launched massive airstrikes on suspected Hamas targets. According to Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, more than 8000,<> people have now been killed as a result of the Israeli attacks.

Iran, an ally of Hamas, had hailed its large-scale attack on Israel as a "success." However, the leadership in Tehran denies any involvement in this.

Since the Hamas attack, there have been growing fears of an expansion of the war in the region. In particular, there are fears that existing conflicts could escalate further; above all, the shadow war between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon should be mentioned here.

In addition, U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq have repeatedly been the target of attacks, which have increased since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. Most recently, US President Joe Biden warned Iran against attacks on US troops, as this could lead to an expansion of the Middle East war.

dop/AFP