Israel war: Iran's Khamenei hails Hamas, warns retaliation could be 'greater disaster'

Hamas inflicted an “irreparable” defeat on Israel, according to Iran’s ruling cleric, who denied responsibility for the terrorist attack but vowed that Israel's response would lead to a "greater disaster" for the Jewish state. “From the military and intelligence aspects, this defeat is irreparable,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told an audience of Iranian military cadets, per Iranian media. “And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas,” Netanyahu said on Monday. “In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people. This army was a paper tiger.”In the event, Hamas raiders are believed to have taken at least 150 hostages.