Statements from Hezbollah or Hamas leadership or credible international news reports

Iran's Khamenei Denies Having Proxies, Says Hezbollah and Hamas Fight Independently

Dec 22, 2024, 09:37 AM

On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Iran does not have any proxy forces in the Middle East, rejecting claims that the country has lost its so-called proxies in the region. In a speech to religious poets and eulogists, Khamenei asserted that groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis in Yemen fight due to their own faith and beliefs, and are not acting on behalf of Iran. He emphasized, "If we decide to take action one day, we don't need proxy forces." He added that these resistance groups are active because their beliefs compel them to fight, not because they are proxies for Iran.