In a striking interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar), Vienna-based Syrian journalist Thaer Al-Nashef firmly defended Israel’s decision to destroy both Syria’s Al-Kibar nuclear reactor and Iraq’s Tammuz reactor.
He stated that Syria under Assad and Iraq under Saddam were rogue terrorist regimes that would not have hesitated to “press the button” and ignite a nuclear catastrophe across the Middle East had they acquired such weapons.
Al-Nashef emphasized that Israel’s preemptive strikes prevented regional disaster and likely saved countless lives. He warned that these regimes had demonstrated a consistent willingness to endanger the entire region, and that nuclear capability in their hands would have had devastating consequences.
Turning to Hamas, Al-Nashef argued that the group continues to destroy any real prospects for a Palestinian state by serving Iran’s regional agenda. He explained that whenever Tehran’s nuclear negotiations stall, Iran mobilizes Hamas for escalation, while ordinary Gazans pay the price “with their blood.” He said this dynamic exposes the extent to which Hamas acts as an Iranian proxy rather than a movement seeking peace or independence.