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Iranian-backed terror group, Hezbollah, received $700 million from Tehran in 2022, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has also revealed that Iran’s proxy Hamas received $100 million, and Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad received tens of millions of dollars. Iran has also reportedly transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to Iranian-backed militias in Syria and to the Syrian government.
Israel has warned that it is facing a multi-front war and security experts have reported that Iran is orchestrating coordinated cross-border rockets attacks (Gaza, Lebanon and Syria) as well as attempting to destabilise the West Bank.
Israel’s Defense Minister cautioned that the large financial support given to these beneficiaries makes them increasingly dependent on Tehran, thus expanding Iran’s regional influence. The funding also empowers these groups to make bolder moves and cross red-lines they may not have crossed previously.
The Minister summarised that “while Israel is busy dealing with Iran’s proxies, Iran is getting stronger economically and militarily and this gives it room for action”. “This is something that should keep the whole world, and Israel, awake at night”, he concluded.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh reportedly met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut the day before the Lebanon rocket attacks to discuss “the readiness of the axis of resistance”, including Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and other Iran-backed terror groups opposed to Israel’s existence.
