Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the head of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh in a meeting in Tehran that Iran won't directly join the war on behalf of Hamas, reported Reuters.
Khamenei emphasized continued political and moral support but urged Hamas not to call on Iran and its ally Hezbollah to fully engage in the conflict against Israel.
Hamas, after launching an attack on Israel on October 7, sought assistance from its axis allies including Iran and Hezbollah. However, Iran, while supporting Hamas politically and morally, made it clear it won't intervene directly in the conflict unless attacked by Israel or the US.
Hezbollah, another key member of the axis, was surprised by Hamas' attack, and its fighters were not on alert.
Hezbollah engaged in heavy clashes with Israel, but like Iran, it avoided an all-out confrontation, calculating its attacks to keep the violence contained near the Lebanon-Israel border.
The current crisis marks the first time the so-called Axis of Resistance, led by Iran and including groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, has mobilized on multiple fronts simultaneously, testing the limits of their alliance.
The axis members have differing priorities and face domestic challenges which makes the situation complex.
The conflict involves Hamas fighting for survival against Israel, which has launched a retaliatory onslaught on Gaza.
Iran's strategy is to use its network of armed allies, including Hezbollah, to launch attacks on Israeli and American targets across the Middle East, demonstrating solidarity with Hamas without engaging in a direct confrontation with Israel.
The US is keen to avoid further escalation in the conflict but it is providing military aid to Israel.
The Axis of Resistance has targeted US forces in Iraq and Syria, launching drone and rocket attacks, adding another dimension to the crisis.
Things might get worse as tensions rise, and the conflict in Gaza could involve Hezbollah, leading to a bigger regional problem.
The situation remains fluid with various actors carefully calibrating their actions to avoid a wider war.
