Iran has boosted Palestinian
militias under Hamas, a U.S. official was quoted as saying.
Reuters cited Washington sources in reporting Wednesday that Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the Bush administration’s security envoy in
Israel and the Palestinian Authority, told a closed-door briefing of U.S. congressional leaders and staff that because of Iran sponsorship, Hamas had a better armed and trained militia than the more moderate
P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas also had a larger force than Abbas.
Dayton was further quoted as saying that should the Hamas buildup in the Gaza Strip remain unchecked, it could prompt Israeli military
action.
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