Hamas 'deeply' thanks Iran and Houthis for recent attacks against Israel

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas expressed profound gratitude to Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels for their recent missile launches targeting Israel. Hamas described the attacks as a response to what it termed "continuous crimes and aggressions" by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, as well as against Lebanon.

In a statement, Hamas emphasized that halting Israeli aggression has become an urgent priority, necessitating solidarity from various regional and global parties. The group asserted that "the Zionist entity and its aggressive and uncontrolled behavior are the source of all tensions in the region and its serious repercussions internationally."

This development follows a reactivation of direct missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. Earlier, Iran had launched missiles against Israeli territory in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Since a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. took effect in April, Tehran had warned that the Lebanese front, where Israel has been expanding its occupation and clashing with Hezbollah, should be included in any cessation of hostilities.

Israeli aircraft reportedly attacked Iran's air defense system and a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr in response to Iran's ballistic missile deployment. The Israeli military indicated it was preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Iran, viewing the current actions as a continuation of a previous operation launched in February.