GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Dec. 6. In a matter of days, Iran voiced its rejection.
On Dec. 11, for the first time ever, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds Force, called the leaders of the military wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to offer military support. Some saw this move as an Iranian message of defiance to the United States and Israel in response to Trump's decision.