72 No. 76 JUSTICE is already an ongoing armed conflict between the two States, these armed attacks are in fact part and parcel of this ongoing armed conflict. Thus, the ongoing, years-long armed conflict between the two States, commenced by Iran’s aggression against Israel, has been maintained and fueled through the activities of terrorist armed groups that acted as part of Iran’s ‘ring of fire’, in addition to the direct hostilities between the States. The close relationship between the Iranian regime and these armed groups is public and evident. For example: the joint operational planning with Hezbollah forces in the context of their hostilities against Israel (evidenced in the fact that senior Iranian military commanders have been killed in IDF attacks against Hezbollah command and control centers since October 7, 2023), the persistent presence of Iranian military commanders close to Israel’s borders, and public reporting of meetings between Iranian military and these armed groups for the purpose of military planning and operations (including in the lead up to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks). Senior IRGC generals have been members of Hezbollah’s governing council.26 Iran is intimately involved in guiding and assisting Hezbollah and replenishing its arms and ranks.27 Iran’s involvement in Hezbollah’s operational conduct during the hostilities was also evident when the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon was reportedly injured when Hezbollah military communications beepers – including his own – simultaneously exploded in September 2024. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leadership have acknowledged the Iranian regime’s role publicly on numerous occasions.28 Indeed, Hamas and Hezbollah officials have publicly acknowledged Iran’s role and involvement in planning widescale invasions of Israel b these groups, similar to the attack that was in fact carried out by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7, 2023.29 As recently as June 20, 2025, the Houthis publicly declared that their attacks are coordinated 26. For public reporting on this, see Top Iranian General Killed in Damascus Strike Sat on Hezbollah’s Decision-Making Body, Times of Israel (Apr. 8, 2024), https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-iranian-general-killed-in-damascus-strikesat-on-hezbollahs-decision-making-body/. 27. A Series of Strikes That Disrupted Attempts to Transfer Weapons from Syria to Hezbollah Revealed, IDF (Nov. 25, 2024) (in hebrew), https://www.idf.il/- אתרי יחידות/יומן המלחמה/כל הכתבות/הפצות/נחשף-רצף-תקיפות-ששיבשו-ניסיונות העברת-אמל-ח-מסוריה-לחיזבאללה 28. For example, then Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, gave a speech in 2018 expressing Hezbollah’s allegiance to Iran: Iranian Website Published Speech Delivered by Hezbollah Secretary-General in Closed Forum, Expressing Total Devotion to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (Mar. 2017), https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/iranian-website-published-speech-delivered-hezbollah-secretarygeneral-closed-forum-expressing-total-devotion-irans-supreme-leader-similar-statements-issued-previously-h/. In 2019, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesperson stated: ‘Since the day of its establishment, the Islamic Republic [of Iran] has been supporting the Palestinian fighters financially, militarily, in training, and in all aspects since the day of its establishment, the Islamic Republic [of Iran] has been supporting the Palestinian fighters financially, militarily, in training, and in all aspects.’ See Palestinian Islamic Jihad Showcases Tunnels, Rockets on Iranian TV, MEMRI (video) (Feb. 24, 2019), https://www.memri.org/tv/palestinian-islamic-jihad-showcases-military-capabilties-iranian-tv-rightcapture-israeli-soldiers-tunners-rockets-iran-support. See also Israel Defense Forces, The IDF Reveals How Saeed Izadi Armed and Funded Hamas on Behalf of the Iranian Regime, IDF (June 25, 2025), https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/idf-press-releases-israel-at-war/june-25-pr/the-idf-reveals-how-saeed-izadi-armed-and-funded-hamas-on-behalfof-the-iranian-regime/ For more public reporting on this, see Captured Documents Show Iranian Support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (Nov. 18, 2024), https://www.terrorisminfo.org.il/en/captured-documents-show-iranian-support-for-hamas-in-the-gaza-strip/. 29. Activities of Saeed Izadi, Head of the Qods Forces’ “Palestine Branch,” Reflected in Captured Document, Terrorism Information and Analysis Center, Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (Feb. 27, 2025), https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/activities-of-saeed-izadi-head-of-the-qods-forces-palestine-branch-reflected-incaptured-document/; Captured Documents Show Iranian Support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Terrorism Information and Analysis Center, Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (Nov. 2024), https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/captureddocuments-show-iranian-support-for-hamas-in-the-gaza-strip/; The IDF Reveals How Saeed Izadi Armed and Funded Hamas on Behalf of the Iranian Regime, IDF (June 25, 2025),
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgzNzA=