Iran backs away from volunteer program for Gaza
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei thanked groups of volunteers waiting at Iranian airports Friday, Jan. 9, to be dispatched to Gaza to fight Israel, but told them:…one must pay attention that in this regard our hands are tied.”
debkafile‘s military sources: At the outset of Israel’s offensive against Hamas, Dec. 27, Tehran called on volunteers to fight in Gaza. Two weeks later, they are being sent home – partly, say debkafile‘s Iranian sources, because Egypt would never grant them access to the embattled enclave through its ports and territory, but mainly because Iran has decided to stay clear of direct military engagement with Israel.
Most of last week, Iranian officials besought their ally Syria and proxy Hizballah for steps in support of the Palestinian Hamas, but both have hesitated so far.