Hamas, Hezbollah seek to unite ‘Islamic ummah’ against Israel - Iran media

Iran has suffered setbacks to its missile and nuclear program due to recent mysterious explosions and the Iranian regime has been reticent to blame Israel directly or to respond.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh attends a meeting with members of international media at his office in Gaza City, June 20, 2019; Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters during a public appearance at a religious procession (photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh attends a meeting with members of international media at his office in Gaza City, June 20, 2019; Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters during a public appearance at a religious procession
(photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)
Hamas and Hezbollah are allied against Israel over its annexation plans, Tasnim News Agency reported Saturday.
While the two terrorist groups apparently have not been in close contact about coordinating efforts, the Iranian media outlet, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggested they were both confronting Israel over recent policies.
The article is important because it hints at Iran’s strategy in dealing with Israel in the coming months. Tehran has suffered setbacks to its missile and nuclear program due to recent mysterious explosions, and it has been reticent to blame Israel directly or to respond.
Iran is seeking a larger agreement with China in the meantime and an end to the arms embargo. A new crisis with Israel may not be in the regime’s interests. But stoking tensions with Hezbollah and Hamas likely is.
It is in this context that the relatively short article appeared on Saturday. “Hamas and Hezbollah stress the need for unity of the Islamic ummah [community] to counter the conspiracy,” the headline reads. The “conspiracy” refers to Israel’s annexation plans and “depriving rights to Palestinians.”