Israel Strikes '100 More Hamas Targets'; Iraqchi Claims 'Resistance is Moving Forward'

The Israeli army announced that in the past two days, it has targeted over 100 'terrorist' sites in the Gaza Strip and killed dozens of members of the extremist group Hamas. Meanwhile, the Gaza Civil Defense Agency reported that more than 30 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Saturday alone. According to AFP, Israeli officials stated that these attacks were in response to Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Recent tensions have escalated as indirect negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages have resumed in Doha, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The Israeli Defense Minister warned that if rocket fire continues, Israeli attacks will intensify. The war, which began in October 2023, continues, and efforts to end the conflict and free remaining hostages are ongoing. The Hamas group, recognized as terrorist by the U.S. and the EU, along with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other groups in the region, is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, which refers to these groups as the 'Resistance Axis.' Despite ongoing heavy strikes by Israel against these groups, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Sunday, January 6, that 'enemies think that if they inflict damage on the Resistance Axis, it is a victory for them; they should know that this is the beginning of their defeat.' He continued that 'the forward movement of the Resistance will continue, and resistance will flourish day by day.' In a recent interview with Chinese state television CCTV, Araqchi also stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared for the possibility of renewed attacks by Israel. He expressed hope that Israel would not act in such a manner and would refrain from making 'hasty decisions' as it would 'lead to a comprehensive war.' The U.S. is selling $8 billion worth of new weapons to Israel. Araqchi's interview with the Chinese state network apparently took place during his visit to Beijing last week, which aired on Saturday, January 6. He claimed that in response to potential developments related to Israel, Iran 'will continue to pursue a diplomatic approach and will be in contact with regional countries and consult with its friends, such as China.' The Iranian Foreign Minister expressed the opinion that the diplomatic process 'will ultimately prevail and prevent actions with serious consequences.' On November 5, Israel attacked 20 military targets, including missile fuel production centers and radar bases of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in response to two instances of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel in late April and October. The Prime Minister and the Israeli army announced that this operation left their hands free for future attacks, and Iran's air defense systems, which protected sensitive military and nuclear sites, were severely damaged and incapacitated. The Islamic Republic of Iran had promised to retaliate against that Israeli operation, but over 70 days later, it has not taken any action, which many analysts in Western media attribute to Iran's insufficient military capability to inflict serious damage on Israel and the impending return of Donald Trump to the White House on January 21. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, January 6, that Iran, after a difficult year and its failures in the region, is facing the upcoming Trump administration with 'extremely weak' capabilities, while also experiencing a severe economic crisis domestically, which may lead to intensified social unrest, making 2025 even more challenging for it. Israeli news site Wallanews reported on Saturday that the Israeli army, under the command of Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, has gone into full alert to counter potential actions by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the coming days. According to this report, Israeli military sources believe that Iran may resort to extreme actions against Israel to divert public attention from internal crises, such as economic problems, the depreciation of the national currency, and energy shortages in the winter season. These concerns have intensified following Hezbollah's defeat in Lebanon, the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and the approach of Donald Trump's presidency. Western media have reported that the U.S. has warned Iran that if it attacks Israel, it will not be able to contain Israel's response, although Israel refrained from targeting Iran's economic infrastructure during the November 5 attack under pressure from Washington. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the commencement of a large-scale exercise 'Prophet Muhammad 19' in Kermanshah province. This exercise focuses on practicing rapid response capabilities and transferring military equipment to mountainous areas such as Hooraman. A large number of hundreds of Iranian missiles were fired against Israel from the mountains of Kermanshah during two attacks in April and October. Iran has emphasized that its defensive and missile capabilities are non-negotiable, while U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has deemed the effectiveness of Iran's missile system weaker than Tehran claims. These developments coincide with a new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and three European countries in Europe. Abbas Araqchi has also stated that Iran's missile power is the main focus of Western negotiations with Tehran. On Saturday, the Telegraph reported, citing a Yemeni army official, that the Islamic Republic has increased its military assistance to the Shia Houthi group in that country. According to Abdbasat al-Baher, spokesman for the Yemeni army in Taiz province, since the weakening and defeat of Iran-backed forces in the region, including Hezbollah and Hamas, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Tehran has increased its assistance to the Houthis. Al-Baher stated that the Houthis have received enough weapons 'to continue their attacks on ships in the Mediterranean and on Israel for years.' In the past month, at least three missiles fired by the Houthis in Yemen have entered Israeli airspace, although the Israeli army has successfully intercepted these missiles.