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Why It's Obvious Iran Approved Hamas' Attack
(Wall Street Journal) Shay Khatiri - Shortly after Hamas' assault on Israel, the Wall Street Journal, relying on Hamas sources, reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran had green-lit the Oct. 7 attack. U.S. government officials said they don't have evidence of Iran's involvement. But American intelligence agencies' lack of evidence isn't surprising, since they also failed to predict Hamas' attack. Those who understand the Islamic Republic's regime find it hard to believe that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn't give his consent. Iran primarily fights the U.S. and Israel through proxies. This falls within the portfolio of Brig.-Gen. Esmail Qaani, the Quds Force commander and a member of Khamenei's circle. After Khamenei gave the green light, Gen. Qaani and other officials, using the supreme leader's authority, instructed the rest of the regime to shuffle around money and materiel for Hamas. Gen. Qaani met with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials in April and June. Iran is likely to be the largest beneficiary of the Hamas attack. The regime expects Israel's national-security policy to reorient toward the Palestinians, relieving Tehran of military pressure in Syria and Iraq and over its nuclear program, while Israel tries to deal with Hamas, prevent a third intifada, and protect its northern border. The writer is a senior fellow at the Yorktown Institute.