Hamas utilized drones to disrupt cellular transmission stations, military surveillance towers, and remote-controlled machine guns, hindering Israel’s communication and surveillance capabilities, as reported by The New York Times. Furthermore, Hamas employed a strategy of swarming multiple entry points on Israel’s border, showcasing their incursion through videos while holding territory for extended periods and perpetrating indiscriminate killings and abductions of Israelis. This approach aimed to puncture Israel’s sense of deterrence and security, drawing them into a land war on Hamas’ turf. Iran’s involvement in supporting Hamas and Hezbollah has been well-documented for years, with Iranian officials openly boasting about their role in arming these groups. Iran played a crucial role in providing weapons, hosting conferences, and offering training to Hamas, assisting them in manufacturing rockets based on Iranian designs and technology.
Hamas developed its rocket capabilities with the guidance of Hezbollah members and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the early stages, Iran smuggled weapons into Gaza for Hamas, but later, they assisted the group in locally manufacturing rockets using common materials. By 2012, Hamas was firing long-range Iranian Fajr-5 rockets at major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Through Iran’s support, Hamas has made considerable progress in its ability to rapidly launch large quantities of rockets, some capable of striking targets up to 45 miles away. Hamas aims to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system by launching massive volleys of rockets, exploiting its limitations and allowing some projectiles to breach the defense.
Iran’s cultivation of proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah across the region has been a long-standing strategy to counter countries with superior conventional militaries and deter potential attacks on Iran itself. This approach involves teaching similar tactics and strategies to these proxies in different locations. The recent assault carried out by Hamas on Israel showcased similarities to Hezbollah’s tactics in Lebanon, demonstrating the adoption of strategies straight from Hezbollah’s playbook. This collaboration between Iran and its proxies poses significant challenges for countries in the region and underscores Iran’s intentions to influence the balance of power in the Middle East.
Overall, this news article highlights the extensive support provided by Iran to Hamas, which includes the provision of weapons, training, and technology. Through this assistance, Hamas has been able to enhance its capabilities and employ increasingly sophisticated tactics, such as the use of drones and swarm attacks. This collaboration with Iran has enabled Hamas to effectively challenge Israel’s defenses and instigate a land war. The involvement of Iran in bolstering proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah is part of a broader strategy to project influence across the region and counter countries with superior conventional militaries.
