The Palestinian Iran-based militant group Hamas have urged Iran to avoid attacking its neighbours, though they have again restated that Tehran reserves the right to retaliate against the U.S. and Israeli attacks.

It is the first instance where the group has been vocal about the policies of Iran. It has shown its support to Iran in the course of the war and seems to avoid any form of retaliation to date.

“Although the group confirms the right of Iran to deal with this aggression using all possible means as per the international norms and laws, the group urges our brothers in Iran not to attack the neighbouring countries,” it said.

It also urged all the countries in the region and the international organisations to cease the war at once.

Israel and Hamas have signed a ceasefire in Gaza that came into effect in October; however, since then, there have been frequent eruptions of violence. Although at the onset of war with Iran, Israeli attacks on Gaza had reduced, they have since started to increase.

The Lebanese Hezbollah, which supported Iran, in its turn, opened fire on 12 to avenge the assassination of the Iranian supreme leader at the beginning of the war. Israel has since then pounded Lebanon and has been targeting the group.

The Iran-based Houthis of Yemen, who launched a military action against vessels it believed to have connections with Israel in the Red Sea during the war in Gaza, have also shown great loyalty to Tehran. They are not yet threatening to take up the attacks again.