Israeli Army Spokesman: The Islamic Republic is Responsible for Increased Tensions in the Region

The Israeli army warned that the Islamic Republic of Iran is involved in escalating attacks against Israel and is creating significant problems for the long-term efforts to strengthen the security of this country. While the Israeli army is engaged in war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Iran-backed Shia groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have attacked targets in Israel following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 6. In recent months, Hezbollah has carried out daily attacks from southern Lebanon and occasionally from Syria against northern Israel. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed to have conducted several attacks against positions in Tel Aviv, and the Yemeni Houthis have also attacked the port of Eilat in southern Israel multiple times. Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for the Israeli army, said on Monday that the Iranian government is at the center of these attacks against Israel and that the ongoing war is not limited to Hamas. Mr. Hagari told Newsweek, '[The government] of Iran has occupied Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria in a very complex manner and uses these countries to fight against Israel... Sunni countries, as well as innocent civilians in the Western world.' According to him, the Iranian government provides weapons, money, and intelligence to Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi militias, and Shia militias in Syria and is responsible for the increase in tensions in the region. The Israeli army spokesman stated that at the end of the current war, Israel's borders must be secure and Hezbollah must be pushed away from the common border of the two countries. According to Daniel Hagari, Israel is now a 'different country' with a different army after the terrorist attack on October 6. This comes as the Islamic Republic, despite abundant evidence and documentation, always denies controlling the 'Axis of Resistance' composed of its supported Shia militias in the region, but has always praised their attacks against U.S. positions and Israel, including on October 6 of last year. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed to have attacked power facilities in Tel Aviv. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the Iranian government is the main supplier of weapons, intelligence, and technology to the Houthis. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a Hezbollah commander and four militants were killed in Deir ez-Zor. Missile attacks occurred in northern Damascus; two Syrian military sources reported that Israel attacked Hezbollah positions. The Houthis confirmed a meeting with Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Beirut. Israeli fighter jets continued attacks on the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah facilities. Hezbollah's drone attack on the Golan Heights; Israel stated that two hostile aerial targets 'fell.'