Sunday, as Israeli forces advanced further into Gaza, a menacing social media message was published by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
“Zionist regime’s crimes have crossed the red lines, which may force everyone to take action. Washington asks us to not do anything, but they keep giving widespread support to Israel,” Raisi said in a post on X.
“The US sent messages to the Axis of Resistance but received a clear response on the battlefield,” Raisi said, referring to Iran-aligned groups that are opposed to both Israel and the United States.
Head of the IDF Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo in Ashkelon: "This war will be long, weeks or months." pic.twitter.com/qrGit3EpHJ
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 29, 2023
Raisi stated in a statement from Iran’s Tasnim News Agency that the United States’ support for Israel in its conflict against Hamas, which Newsweek reports killed over 1,400 people in an incursion into Israel on October 7, was hypocritical.
“Americans who claim human rights, who equip and support this fake and anti-human regime with military equipment for crimes in Gaza, what answer do they have to their nation and the nations of the world for these actions?” the statement said.
IDF releases photos showing ground forces operating in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/3hKt7hZ837
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 29, 2023
State-run IRNA reports that in an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Raisi attempted to distance himself from Iran and the militia groups it provides support to.
“Iran considers it its duty to support the resistance groups, but … the resistance groups are independent in their opinion, decision, and action,” he said according to France 24.
Our troops in the field deserve a Commander in Chief who has their back.
President Biden, up your game when it comes to deterring Iran before it’s too late. pic.twitter.com/Ok9Fg2JLel
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 26, 2023
“The United States knows very well our current capabilities and knows that they are impossible to overcome,” he said.
According to the Jerusalem Post, during the interview, Raisi stated that attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East carried out by Iran-affiliated organizations were in response to messages Iran had received from the United States.
Additionally, Raisi asserted that Israeli ground forces in Gaza had been “defeated” and were now retreating.
IDF says troops killed a number of Hamas terrorists who exited a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip, close to the Erez Crossing. A number of other Palestinian gunmen were killed in separate battles nearby, the IDF adds. Also, a drone struck a Hamas staging ground, killing several… pic.twitter.com/nqj7GV8DyL
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 29, 2023
The Times of Israel reports that despite this, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday that ground forces were expelling Hamas combatants from the way as they advanced into northern Gaza. Israel continued to implore Gaza residents who had not yet fled to do so.
“To the residents of the Gaza Strip: The Gaza governorate (Gaza City) has become a battlefield. Shelters in northern Gaza and Gaza governorate are not safe,” leaflets dropped by Israeli planes said.