Hamas urges Iran to halt attacks on Gulf states amid escalating regional conflict
In a statement issued on Saturday (14 March), the Tehran-backed group called on its “brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries,” stressing that regional nations should cooperate to preserve “the bonds of brotherhood.”
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has urged Iran to stop targeting Gulf states, making a rare appeal to its key ally amid growing tensions across the Middle East.
In a statement issued on Saturday (14 March), the Tehran-backed group called on its "brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries," stressing that regional nations should cooperate to preserve "the bonds of brotherhood."
At the same time, Hamas reaffirmed Iran's right to defend itself against attacks by the United States and Israel, which have continued launching strikes inside Iran, reports BBC.
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Iranian authorities have said their retaliatory drone and missile strikes are aimed at "American installations" on Gulf soil rather than neighbouring countries themselves. However, several attacks have reportedly hit civilian infrastructure.
Hamas said it was "following with deep concern the ongoing war in the region" and called on all countries and international organisations to work toward an immediate halt to the conflict.
Iran has not publicly responded to the statement.
Over the past two weeks, Iran's retaliatory strikes have been felt across several Gulf countries. At least 18 people have been killed across the region so far, most of them security personnel or foreign workers.
Six people were killed in the United Arab Emirates and another six in Kuwait, while Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain each reported two deaths.
Iran remains Hamas's largest backer in terms of financial assistance, weapons and political support. Hamas is also considered part of Iran's so-called "axis of resistance," a loose regional alliance opposing US and Israeli influence.
Earlier, Hamas condemned the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war on 28 February, describing it as a "heinous crime."
Turkey and Qatar, which also provide political and financial support to Hamas, have recently come under Iranian attacks.
The development comes as tensions remain high following the devastating war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that lasted for more than two years.
A US-brokered ceasefire took effect last October, though both sides have accused each other of frequent violations. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 649 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
