TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza “May force everyone” to act in latest warning issued by Islamic republic since start of Israel-Hamas conflict.

Israel has been pounding tiny Palestinian territory since Hamas gunmen stormed across border on October 7 and according to Israeli officials, killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.

“Crimes of Zionist regime have crossed red lines and this may force everyone to take action,” Raisi said on X.

“Washington asks us to not do anything, but they keep giving widespread support to Israel,” he said.

“US sent messages to Axis of Resistance but received clear response on battlefield,” he said, using term often used by Iranian officials to refer to Islamic republic and its allies like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Huthis and other Shia forces in Iraq and Syria.

Although it was not immediately clear what he was referring to, there have been string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria as well as increasing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on Lebanon border since Gaza conflict began.

Iran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas, hailed October 7 attacks as “Success”.

“Iran considers it its duty to support resistance groups, but resistance groups are independent in their opinion, decision and action,” Iranian President said in an interview with Al Jazeera, according to excerpts released by state news agency IRNA.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 30 2023

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