Iran Declines Military Involvement in Israel-Hamas Conflict, Limits Support to Political Backing

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly communicated to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh that Iran will not engage militarily in the ongoing conflict against Israel. This decision was disclosed after Tehran was unexpectedly uninformed about Hamas’ October 7 incursion into southern Israel and terrorist atrocities that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Despite Iran’s role in leading the “Axis of Resistance”—a coalition of Islamist proxy groups across the Middle East including Hizbullah, Houthi rebels, and Hamas—the country has opted for a restrained approach. Khamenei has assured Hamas of its political support but will not directly intervene, urging Haniyeh to limit calls for full-scale warfare involving Iran and its proxies.

Hizbullah, too, was taken by surprise by the October 7 attacks and has since focused on relatively minor border skirmishes rather than a full-blown military campaign. This cautious stance is mirrored by Israel’s efforts to avoid escalation on additional fronts, despite being prepared for potential incursions from the north. The complex regional dynamic is further highlighted by the US’s strategic military deployments in the region, including the positioning of aircraft carriers and the USS Florida nuclear submarine in the Persian Gulf.