On Tuesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that no one can prevent Muslims and the “resistance forces” if Israel continues to commit “crimes” in Gaza.
As cited by state news agency IRNA, Khamenei said, “If the crimes of the Zionist regime continue, no one can stop the Muslims and the resistance forces.”
Iran refers to a group of various proxy militias it supports across the region, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Iraq and Syria, as being part of the “resistance axis.”
Khamenei called for the Israeli bombardment of Gaza to immediately halt.
This comes a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that “preemptive action” against Israel was possible within hours.
As cited by IRNA, Amirabdollahian said, “All possible options and scenarios are there for Hezbollah. Everything has been considered correctly in their calculations and resistance leaders will not allow [Israel] to take any action in the region. Any preemptive measure is possible in the coming hours.”
He emphasized that while a chance will be given for a political resolution of the battle, “any action is possible” in case Israel continues its “war crimes” against Palestinian civilians.
Amirabdollahian added, “The resistance front has the capability of ‘long-term wars with the enemy,’ and that the expansion of the ongoing conflict will change the map of [Israel].”
Naim Qassem, Hezbollah deputy chief, said last week that international and regional calls for the group to stay out of the Hamas-Israel conflict will not be heeded.
As cited by Hezbollah TV Al Manar, Qassem said, “The behind-the-scenes calls with us by great powers, Arab countries, envoys of the United Nations, directly and indirectly telling us not to interfere will have no effect. Hezbollah knows its duties perfectly well. We are prepared and ready, fully ready.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) cautioned Hezbollah of a “deadly” response if it continued to take out attacks against Israel.
