Written by Anthony Constantini

What’s happening: Iran does not yet have boots on the ground in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. But the Islamic Republic’s financial support is what directs Hamas and other jihadist organizations across the Middle East to wreak havoc. Iran’s tentacles extend to Iraqi militias, the Syrian government, Hamas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Why it matters: Iran has been likened to an octopus, with proxies spread across the Middle East. Iran’s goal since 1979’s Revolution is twofold: to indirectly eject Western powers from the Middle East, and to expand — ultimately creating a worldwide Islamic caliphate.

Zoom in: The Islamic Republic hates Israel, and Iran’s Supreme Leader has repeatedly threatened to eradicate the Jewish and Western-backed state. Gaza-based Hamas and Lebanon-based Hezbollah are two ways Iran carries out those threats. And both are playing a major role in the attacks on Israel right now.

  • Hamas: Iran funds Hamas with at least $100 million per year for weapons and other operational support to carry out attacks. Reporting suggests Iran was surprised by Hamas’s attack, but it’s hard to imagine Hamas would have executed an attack of this scope without at least Iranian sign-off.

  • Hezbollah: The Lebanon-based group, a fusion of a political party and a private army, receives upwards of $700 million per year from Iran. Like Iran, Hezbollah has not seriously engaged in the current conflict (save some small skirmishes) but has threatened to do more.

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