Hamas terrorists on Monday celebrated the Taliban for its "defeat" of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as the Biden administration withdraws forces from the region.
"We congratulate the Muslim Afghan people for the defeat of the American occupation on all Afghan lands, and we congratulate the Taliban movement and its brave leadership on this victory, which culminated its long struggle over the past 20 years," Hamas's statement reads. "While Hamas wishes the Afghan Muslim people and its leadership success in achieving unity, stability and prosperity for Afghanistan and its people, it stresses that the demise of the American occupation and its allies proves that the resistance of the peoples, foremost of which is our struggling Palestinian people, will achieve victory."
The terrorist group's congratulations comes shortly after similar praise from Iran, Hamas's primary financial and military backer. Iranian officials affirmed their support for the Taliban in Monday statements.
Hamas's praise for the Taliban follows a formalization of relations between the two terrorist groups. Taliban officials met several weeks ago with Hamas leadership in Qatar. Hamas fighters reportedly see the Taliban's increasing control of the Middle East as a reason for cooperation.