Reports confirm that the terrorist organization Hamas is receiving support from Iran in its attacks on Israel.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday that Iran has been continuing support for Hamas and Hezbollah, an Islamist militant group based in Lebanon.
“Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah, and we know that Iran is closely monitoring these events and, in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good or for that of Iran,” Kirby said.
“We know Iran’s goal is to maintain some level of deniability here, but we’re not going to allow them to do that,” he added.
This comes after the Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border earlier this month, killing at least 700 people. As of Wednesday, the death toll has risen to 1,200, according to IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.
The attack prompted Israel to declare war against the terrorist group with a ruthless aerial campaign that has flattened homes, schools, medical institutions, and government buildings in the Gaza Strip.
A senior U.S. defense official, meanwhile, said that the situation could get significantly worse for the two warring parties.
“We see a prospect for much more significant escalation against US forces and personnel in the near-term,” the official told journalists on Monday, describing the recent spike in attacks as “efforts by Iran and Iran proxy forces to seek to escalate this conflict.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has since pledged his support for Israel, with his administration already moving military units to the country as well as supplying them with munitions and interceptors to ensure the Iron Dome defense system has enough supplies.
“We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack,” he said in remarks from the State Dining Room. “There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.”
The U.S. has also rejected calls for a ceasefire, as it says that Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorist attacks.
