Khaberni - Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, disclosed that the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation against Israel on October 7, 2023, was carried out with utmost secrecy, such that the leaders of Hamas or the former Hezbollah Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, were not informed about the launch date.
Qaani said in a television interview on Friday, "Neither we, nor Mr. Hassan, nor even the senior leaders of Hamas knew the timing of the operation."
He clarified that Nasrallah, despite not being notified about the timing of the operation, had meticulously planned the stages needed to confront Israel.
He referred to a critical two-week period, during which Nasrallah remained publicly silent without making speeches, but he "instilled terror in the hearts of the Israelis and demonstrated his ability to control all dimensions of the war, military and psychological," according to him.
Qaani confirmed that Hezbollah's pressures forced Israel to deploy a third of its army in southern Lebanon, which "changed the equation of the war."
Qaani also accused Israel of committing "a series of crimes," starting from the assassination of field commanders to the "Pager Bombing" incident, and finally, the assassination of Nasrallah.
He said that the attack which resulted in Nasrallah's death used "in addition to heavy bombs, chemical substances, making it a clear war crime."
The Quds Force commander mentioned that Hezbollah's rocket attacks and drone strikes on sensitive Israeli sites did not receive adequate coverage, adding: "Just two days before Israel requested a ceasefire, Hezbollah launched over 350 rockets and projectiles of various sizes at the enemy, targeting soldiers’ cafeterias and Haifa and even the residence of Netanyahu, reflecting the unique military and psychological capabilities of the resistance," according to him.
Qaani concluded, asserting: "The strategy of the resistance is victory, and we will continue this approach. This strategy will break the back of Israel and America. Today, Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions possess stronger missiles, and despite losses and restrictions, the enemy's objectives have not been achieved and the resistance is growing stronger."
Qaani's statements come despite the instability in the region following the October 7 attack, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where the people have paid a heavy price in terms of lives, displacement, and hunger.
The statements confirm the continuation of a policy of destabilization, despite moving forward with the implementation of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
