Hamas says Iran "paying the price" for standing by Gaza

On June 13, the Palestinian militant group Hamas said that Iran was "paying the price" for its long-standing support of Palestinian armed factions following large-scale Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

In a statement released after the early morning assault, which killed several top Iranian commanders, Hamas described Tehran as a strategic ally that has consistently stood by the Palestinian cause, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The group reiterated its appreciation for Iran's military and financial assistance, especially during the ongoing war that began in October 2023.

"Iran is today paying the price for its steadfast positions in support of Palestine and its resistance, and its adherence to its independent national decision," Hamas said in the statement.

The Israeli military said it was working to intercept over 100 drones launched by Iran in retaliation, though none had reached Israeli territory as of June 13 afternoon.

Iran has vowed a response to what it called an act of aggression, while regional tensions continue to escalate. The strikes marked a significant turn in the ongoing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran, increasingly spilling into open confrontation.

Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, also weighed in on the unfolding situation. In a Telegram post, spokesperson Abu Ubaida declared Hamas’ support for Iran in the face of Israeli attacks.

"The Zionist enemy is completely deluded if it thinks that these treacherous strikes can undermine the fronts of resistance or stabilise the pillars of this fragile entity in the region," he said.

"On the contrary, it continues to make successive strategic mistakes that will bring it closer to its inevitable demise, God willing."

By Aghakazim Guliyev