Al-Qassam Brigades parade at Gaza: weapon types of interest

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades parade dated 14DEC14, marking 27th anniversary of HAMAS

Iranian Ghods Ababil-1 (“Swallow-1”) reconnaissance UAV

Starboard section of Ghods Ababil-1 reconnaissance UAV

Parade flyby of operational Ghods Ababil-1 reconnaissance UAV

Khaibar-1 (M302) 302 mm artillery rocket assemblies, said to be supplied via Iran. Note American-made Dodge Ram pickup truck.

Left: Iranian Dehlavieh (Kornet-E) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)  launcher

Detail of Iranian Dehlavieh ATGM launcher

Detail of Iranian variant Norinco CQ-A1 assault rifle

Large caliber rocket artillery assembly marked "Qassam ??"

Rocket artillery assemblies marked "Qassam"; similar in appearance to Iranian Oghab ("Eagle")

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades platoon parading with variety of assault rifle types

120 mm heavy mortar; similar in appearance to Iranian DIO HM-16

9K111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system

Man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) launchers

Rocket propelled grenade launchers fitted with variety of different type warheads

Tandem warhead types fitted to RPG launchers

Anti-material sniper rifle, possibly Iranian DIO Sayyad-2 (Steyr HS .50) type

Ghillie-suited members of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades

HAMAS senior political leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Khamenei: Muslims Have ‘Upper Hand’ in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today told a group of organizers of the upcoming Hajj that the “defeat” of Israel in the 50-day Gaza war was a manifestation of Muslim power.

“The defeat of the Zionist regime (Israel) in the 50-day war was the defeat of the symbol of Western power in the region at the hands of Gazan people,” Khamenei said. “The Gaza victory proved that Muslims are strong and have many capabilities, can defend themselves and challenge all enemies.” (Fars News Agency, 7 September)

“In the Palestinian issue, the Muslim fortunately have the upper hand,” Khamenei said, without any further explanations.

Photo credit: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (FNA)

Iran, Hezbollah Renew Relations with Hamas - Report

Al-Monitor reported from Gaza today that Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal received phone calls on 7 July from Tehran “initiated” by Ali Larijani, the speaker of Majlis, Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, and a senior IRGC commander. The unnamed political official in Hamas, Al-Monitor’s source, also said that Hezbollah Secretary General Nassrallah called Meshaal on 20 July.

“It is no secret that the relationship between (Hamas and Hezbollah) officials has not been great because of the crisis in Syria. But Iran contacting Meshaal through (Speaker of Majlis) Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and a senior IRGC officer on 7 July encouraged Nasrallah to call Meshaal despite the Syrian boycott of Hamas. Therefore, Nasrallah contacting Meshaal has not had positive echoes in Damascus,” a Palestinian official in Lebanon told Al-Monitor. (Al-Monitor, 26 July)

On 16 July, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a speech on Gaza accused Hamas leadership of being “amateurs, wearing the mask of resistance according to their interests in order to improve their image.” (Al-Monitor, 26 July)

Renewal of relationships between Iran/Hezbollah and Hamas could be a move to show that the “axis of resistance” between Tehran, Damascus and Hezbollah should also include Hamas. Assad would be obviously upset with the development, as Hamas has called for his removal as a necessary step to bring peace and normalcy back to Syria. The events in the region are moving so rapidly that old alliances might come under questions and new alliances, albeit temporary ones take their place; another manifestation that the region is facing its most serious crisis ever.

File photo: Hamas Chief Khaled Mashaal in Cairo in 2012. (AP)

Iran Marks Annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day

Iran today marked the annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day. Large crowds of Iranians participated in rallies across the country. The Quds Day was introduced in the early days of the Islamic Republic as a day of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and as a movement to “liberate” Jerusalem, hence its name. Throughout the years it has become a day of public demonstrations against Israel. This year, the plight of the people in Gaza is the main theme of the demonstrations.

“I hope that the people in Gaza can have a normal life and all of them should stand up to this end and we can gain victory against the aggressors if Muslims grow united,” President Hassan Rouhani told reporters while participating in the Quds Day rally in Tehran today. (Fars News Agency, 25 July)

Photo credit: Iranian president Hassan Rouhani at this year’s Quds Day rally in Tehran, 25 June 2014. (FNA)

Huge Protest in London against War in Gaza

Incredible picture from the protest against Israeli war in Gaza; London, Saturday 19 July 2014.

Photo credit: HuffPost UK/PA

Israeli Military Invades Gaza

Israeli tanks rolled into northern Gaza on Thursday night and naval gunboats pounded targets in the south as Israel began a ground invasion of Gaza. Israel said its actions were taken after Hamas militants continued showering Israeli cities with rockets. Hamas said the rocket attacks were in retaliation of Israeli bombardment of Gaza, which has left more than 230 Gazans dead, including many women and children.

Israel said the incursion was a limited one focused on tunnels into Israeli territory, and was not intended to topple the Hamas government in Gaza.

Photo credit: Israli tank in Gaza, 17 July 2014. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters/NYTimes)

Iran Warships Dock in Port Sudan

Iran’s 23^rd Fleet warships, IRIS Jamaran (76), a guided missile frigate and IRIS Bushehr (422), a replenishment ship, docked in Port Sudan today, making the second port call by the Iranian navy in Sudan in five days. A Sudanese navy spokesman said the visit was a normal port call. In a welcoming ceremony, Rear Admiral Abdullah al-Matri of Sudan called for “further expansion of military ties between Iran and Sudan.” (Fars News Agency/Press TV, 8 December)

Israel and the GCC are following the visit closely. Israel has expressed concerns of Iranian arms shipment to militant groups in Gaza through Sudan.

The GCC, particularly the Saudis, have their own concerns of closer ties between Tehran and Khartoum. After South Sudan broke away to become independent last year, Sudan lost three quarters of its oil production and began seeking bolstering its ties with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Persian Gulf. Gulf states are now among the biggest investors in the country and have just funded a large sugar plant and Sudan's only shopping mall. But the close ties with Tehran, manifested today by Iranian navy’s port call, could make it difficult for Khartoum to expand its relations with the Gulf Arab states.

File photo: Guided Missile Frigate IRIR Jamaran (76) [Hamed Jafarnejad/Fars News Agency]

Not a Lost Cause - A Perspective on Gaza Conflict

"It is now clear that the Iranian conventional threat is smaller than what people thought. The Israeli offensive may have occurred in Gaza – but in Tehran, they are breaking their heads at the moment on finding a solution to the new reality.”

Not a Lost Cause

An Israeli perspective by Eli Avidar (Ma’ariv)

Translated by Viktoria Lymar (IranEdge)

Republished with permission from IranEdge.com

Photo credit: Rafael/Ma’ariv/IranEdge