TEHRAN – A high-ranking commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has declared Hamas’s October 7 operation against Israel as a decisive blow to the Zionist regime’s security and governance apparatus.

Addressing a group of senior commanders on Monday, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC’s Ground Force, emphasized the operation’s destructive implications for Israel’s military infrastructure.

He stated that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm not only exposed the hidden gaps and weaknesses of the Zionist regime but also led to the destruction of Israel’s military command and control center. 

The top commander outlined some of the factors leading to the surprise attack by Hamas, highlighting the years of oppression that people of Palestine endured as one big prerequisite for this flare-up.

“The repeated aggression and invasion by Zionists against the innocent Palestinians, and the constant violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with the tightening siege of Gaza and the implementation of a gradual death scenario for its residents, have all contributed to Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7,” he stated.

General Pakpour further noted that, prior to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the military stature of the Zionist regime was presented as having the highest level of security globally. “However, after the recent operation by Hamas, the operational power of the Zionist regime was caught off guard and collapsed, revealing vulnerabilities across all dimensions,” he added.

Referring to the statements of the United States’s Secretary of State, who acknowledged the destruction of Israel’s military installations during Al-Aqsa Storm, Pakpour highlighted the efforts made by the United States to save the Zionist regime. 

Additionally, the top commander stressed the importance of taking lessons from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and drawing inspiration from the resilience of Palestinian people. He remarked, “The recent war yielded crucial lessons and insights, shaping our commitment to maintaining heightened vigilance, never taking situations for granted, and consistently monitoring the plans and schemes of the enemy.”

The Al-Aqsa Storm Operation was carried out by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in response to the intensified crimes of the occupying regime against the civilians in Gaza.

After nearly 50 days of brutal conflict and killing of more than 15,000 Palestinians by the Israeli military forces, a four-day truce was announced across the Gaza Strip on Friday. The temporary Gaza pause was extended for two more days past its expiry on Monday.

MAS