(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall - At the same time that it engages in nuclear talks, Iran continues to arm and train Hizbullah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad with rockets and missiles, UAVs and advanced anti-aircraft weapons (mainly for Hizbullah). Iran also provides antitank weapons, sniper rifles, mortars, and more. Under Supreme Leader Khamenei's direction, Iran views the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as a single unit under the leadership of Hamas. Iran seeks to encircle Israel from the north (Hizbullah), south (Gaza), and east (the West Bank). Iranian activity is incessant and includes persistent smuggling of weapons into Gaza as well as shipments and convoys to Hizbullah via Syria. The weakening of the American presence in the Gulf and the strengthening of Iran's influence in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, along with the Palestinian organizations' successes, from Iran's perspective, in the recent rounds of conflict with Israel, inspire great confidence in Iran. IDF Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael (Mickey) Segall is a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center and at Foresight Prudence.
2014-12-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive