'A proud operation': Adviser to Iran supreme leader extends support to Hamas for attack on Israel 

A senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for an attack Hamas launched against Israel on Saturday, calling it a “proud operation”. “We support the proud operation of Al-Aqsa Flood,” Yahya Rahim Safavi said at a meeting held in support of Palestinian children in Tehran, quoted by ISNA news agency. “We support this operation, and we are sure that the resistance front also supports this issue,” said Safavi, who is senior general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Palestinian group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched barrages of rockets at Israel from dawn on Saturday as its militants crossed into Israel. At least 22 people have been killed in Israel so far during the violence, according to the latest toll issued by Israeli medics. Israel and Hamas have once again escalated their conflict as the Palestinian militant group initiated a significant aerial and ground operation from the blockaded Gaza Strip, marking one of its largest attacks in recent years. Sirens were activated across Israel, reaching as far north as the disputed city of Jerusalem, starting at approximately 7 a.m. on Saturday. According to Hamas claims, this barrage consisted of 5,000 rockets launched from the blockaded enclave. Concurrently, there has been a ground infiltration by Hamas militants into Israeli towns and villages located on the periphery—an unprecedented development in the 16 years since Hamas assumed control of the strip. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that seven villages and towns are currently under Hamas control. The Israeli military estimates the number of projectiles fired at approximately 2,000. In response to these attacks, which appear to have taken the Israeli security services by surprise, Israel has declared a state of war. With agency inputs.