Report: Iran increases support for Hamas
Representatives of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, meet to review current events, cooperation; agree to 'fortify axis of resistance'
Senior Hezbollah
and Hamas
officials met with representatives of the Iranian government several times over the past two weeks in Beirut and in Tehran, to discuss developments in the region, Lebanese
newspaper As-Safir reported Monday.
The parties conducted an assessment of recent events in the Middle East, including the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Syrian crisis and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
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Officials reportedly also agreed to fortify what they called the "axis of resistance."
Islamist sources quoted in the Lebanese newspaper noted that Hamas plays a key role in strengthening the ties between Islamist movements and in advancing the fight against Israel.
Over the past year, Hamas leaders' support of the Syrian rebels and opposition to President Basher Assad resulted in the deterioration of Hamas' ties with Iran and Hezbollah – which both support the Syrian regime – and the consequent dwindling of funds and arms shipments making their way to Hamas.
The contemporaneous downfall of the Egyptian Hamas patron, Muslim Brotherhood, and lengthy military operations in Sinai against salafi groups, brought about a further decline in Hamas' power in the region.
Elior Levy contributed to this report
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