Ground Operation Imminent, Will Iran Intervene? US Says "Cannot Rule Out Possibility"

As Israel is expected to soon deploy ground forces into the Gaza Strip, the stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, concerns about Iran's potential involvement are growing. The U.S. White House has also expressed fears of escalation, stating that it cannot rule out direct Iranian intervention. Currently, the U.S. has sent warning messages to Iran through confidential communication channels.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" on the 15th (local time) and said, "The risk of escalation has increased due to recent clashes along the northern border," adding, "We cannot rule out the possibility of Iran directly intervening in any way, so we must prepare for all contingencies."

He also mentioned Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, as a "proxy force," suggesting its potential involvement by stating, "They possess significant military capabilities and have a history of attacking Israel."

As the Israeli military's ground operation in the Gaza Strip enters its final countdown, clashes have been confirmed on the northern front with Lebanon and Syria. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps redeployed troops from eastern Deir ez-Zor in Syria closer to Damascus, nearer to Israel. This indicates movements toward involvement in the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also visited Doha, Qatar, on the 14th, delivering strong remarks against Israel. On the same day, he met with Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of Hamas.

Sullivan emphasized, "President Joe Biden wants to send a very clear deterrent message to anyone trying to exploit this situation," adding, "He said 'do not' in a speech last week." When asked about diplomatic contact with Iran, he said, "We have means to communicate privately with Iran," and "In recent days, we have used these means to clearly convey what we have publicly stated."

Regarding a specific timetable for the ground operation, he was reserved, saying, "That is not my role." Instead, Sullivan explained, "Our priority is to ensure that Americans in the Gaza Strip can safely move to neighboring Egypt," and "Secondly, we are working to help the majority of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who are not affiliated with Hamas, to reach safe areas and secure food."

He added, "We will cooperate with Israel, the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, and other countries to ensure civilian protection and to provide civilians access to essential supplies such as food, water, shelter, and medicine," calling it "our priority in the coming days."

Additionally, Sullivan stated, "The Gaza Strip is governed by a brutal and evil terrorist organization. This is not only a threat to Israel but also a challenge to the Palestinian people," implying the necessity of removing Hamas. This essentially shows alignment with Israel's medium- to long-term goals.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

Amid growing concerns about Iran's involvement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been holding talks with leaders or key figures in the Middle East daily. After visiting Egypt on this day, Blinken is scheduled to revisit Israel the following day. This is seen as an indication of the rapidly evolving situation. Blinken, who was urgently dispatched to Israel on the 12th, held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, then visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. He also met with Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The U.S. State Department appointed former ambassador David Satterfield, who served as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey, as a special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues.

Since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, casualties have been increasing daily. Israeli authorities estimate that over 1,400 people have died. Palestinian authorities reported that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 2,300.

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