13-10-2023 (TEHRAN) Amid escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has issued a warning, stating that the possibility of opening new fronts in this war is very real. His comments came as Israel intensified its retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip, heightening concerns that the conflict could escalate into a regional war.
Amir-Abdollahian made these remarks late Thursday upon his arrival in Beirut, Lebanon, where he had traveled to meet with leaders of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
He expressed his intent to discuss the Gaza situation with Lebanese authorities and reaffirmed Iran’s strong political and media support for the Palestinian resistance.
Iran has long supported both Hamas and Hezbollah, although it has denied any involvement in the recent surprise incursion into Israel by Hamas.
The Israeli army has now issued an order for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south of the Palestinian enclave. This has led to growing expectations that Israel is preparing for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip in response to the recent attack by Hamas. The incursion by Hamas, which began last Saturday, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,300 people in Israel.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, which restricts access to essential resources such as food, fuel, and water for the more than 2 million residents. The Israeli military has also launched thousands of airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 individuals.
The United Nations has called on Israel to reverse these measures, with a spokesperson expressing concerns that the evacuation order could escalate the situation from a tragedy to a calamity.
The United States, along with France, has urged Israel to show restraint in its response to Hamas.
Egypt, however, has resisted calls to allow civilians from Gaza to cross its border through the Rafah crossing. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has urged Palestinians to “stay steadfast and remain on [their] land.”
After meeting with Hezbollah official Hassan Hoballah on Friday morning, Amir-Abdollahian called on the United States, a staunch ally of Israel, to exercise control over Israel to prevent a regional conflict from developing.
He stated, “If the Americans want to prevent the war in the region from developing, they must control Israel,” emphasizing that Tehran’s goal is to safeguard Lebanon’s safety.
