"Hamas Received Special Training in Iran Before Israel Surprise Attack...Strengthening Iran's Involvement Allegations"

"Training of Over 500 People in Iran Starting September"
Judged Low Possibility of Direct Involvement in Iran

Palestinian armed faction Hamas militants are reported to have received special training in Iran before launching a surprise attack on Israel on the 7th, sparking controversy. Although Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in the attack, suspicions of indirect support continue to surface, drawing international criticism.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited sources revealing that about 500 Hamas militants underwent special training in Iran last September. They reportedly trained alongside the Quds Force, the elite special forces unit under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the sources, the training was attended by senior Palestinian officials as well as Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force.

Hamas deployed the militants trained there in the surprise attack operation against Israel, using hang gliders, bulldozers, and explosives to neutralize Israel's border barriers and carry out the assault.

As a result, suspicions of Iran's backing of Hamas have intensified, but both Iranian authorities and the United States believe there was no direct involvement. The WSJ quoted U.S. officials as saying, "While Iran regularly trains armed groups abroad, there is no intelligence indicating that this training was specifically to prepare Hamas for the surprise operation," drawing a clear line.

However, the Israeli military criticizes Iran as the direct backer of the surprise attack, supporting Hamas and other armed groups. Israeli military spokesperson Colonel Daniel Hagari strongly condemned, saying, "Before the war, Iran directly supported Hamas with money, training, weapons, and technical know-how," and "Iran continues to assist Hamas by providing intelligence."

As suspicions of Iran's involvement grow stronger, there is concern that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could escalate into a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. Therefore, the United States and the international community are taking a cautious stance. To prevent escalation, the U.S. government has unusually deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.