A new study shows massive Iranian support has improved the military capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organizations. According to Tel Aviv-based Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, the massive rocket fire from Gaza in November that targeted Israeli civilian population centers was made possible by Iran’s support. The report details how the previous policy of keeping Iranian support secret was dropped and Iran publicly admitted it is providing military support in a bid to make political gains at the expense of countries such as Egypt, Turkey and Qatar. Iran is apparently rebuilding the Hamas and PIJ arsenals with medium-range rockets to maintain its double-edged rocket threat to Israel from both the north (through its proxy Hezbollah) and the south (through Hamas and the PIJ). The continued military support for the terrorist groups may increase Iran-Egypt tensions, since Egypt brokered the cease-fire that resulted in the current reduction in Gaza-Israel violence.

[Photo: proisraeli / Flickr]