Did Iran secretly train Hamas for Israel attacks? WSJ speaks up!
In a groundbreaking revelation, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported that 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters received specialized military training from Iran’s elite force. This eyebrow-raising training took place in the crucial weeks leading up to the terror attacks on Israel on October 7. Citing sources familiar with the intelligence concerning the assault, the WSJ highlighted the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards’ elite forces in this covert operation that took place in September.
Shocking Similarities and Techniques
According to the report, the way Hamas executed the attacks bore a startling resemblance to the methods used by Iranian paramilitary groups. Here’s the twist: the terrorists employed new tactics never witnessed before in Hamas operations. They paraglided into southern Israel after outsmarting Israeli observation posts with drone strikes. Moreover, some of these militants made their entrance on motorcycles—a classic technique linked to Iranian paramilitary groups.
Accusations and Denials: A Tangled Web
Both the US and Israel have pointed fingers at Iran in the past, accusing them of aiding Hamas in orchestrating terror attacks that tragically resulted in over 1,500 Israeli casualties and 200 hostages. However, amid these strong accusations, US officials admitted the absence of evidence linking Iran to the planning or execution of the recent attacks. Israel’s IDF spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, was quoted saying, “Before the war, Iran directly assisted Hamas with money, training, weapons, and technological know-how.”
Tehran’s response? An outright denial. While celebrating the attack, Iran’s mission to the United Nations labeled the assault as “fiercely autonomous.” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, heaped praise on those involved in the operation but simultaneously denied any Iranian role in the attack. His exact words? “Those who say that the recent saga is the work of non-Palestinians have miscalculated.”
Follow the Money: The Financial Connections
With the heat intensifying, claims emerged that Iran financially backs Hamas to the tune of around $100 million annually. The US State Department, in 2021, asserted that Hamas not only receives substantial support, weaponry, and training from Iran but also garners funds from some Gulf Arab nations. The intricate web of affiliations doesn’t end there. Iran reportedly has a stronghold on Lebanon’s Shia armed group Hezbollah and frequently flaunts its unbreakable security coordination with Palestinian Islamist groups.