He came up with an idea and fulfilled his joy by defeating the Zionists.
What did Ahmad do before executing the operation and what were the circumstances that accompanied it?
“Machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades will not destroy this building. It needs something that would completely destroy it.”
Martyr Ahmad Kassir confided these words to one of his friends while they passed by the Azmi building in the Jal al-Bahr area in Tyre. The building housed the headquarters of the “Israeli” military governor. It was just an idea he had since the Zionist enemy occupied southern Lebanon in June 1982. That idea then grew into a proposal that he presented to officials from Hezbollah. It entailed him blowing himself up in the Azmi Building. By doing so, he became the prince of the self-sacrificing martyrs.
Whenever he saw the enemy’s aircraft violating the airspace in southern Lebanon, he would say, “Your turn will come soon, God willing.”
Thus, Ahmad began preparing to defeat the Jews. He was rushing things fearing that he might miss his opportunity. Yet, he did so without any changes in his behavior that would indicate that he is on a path to martyrdom.
People close to him described him as cheerful and happy. No one could have imagined that this young man had the spirit of martyrdom in him. At the same time, he continued with the acts of worship, especially reading the Quran and performing Salat al-Layl [Night Prayer].
Those who knew him spoke about his patience. Some said that prior to the execution of the operation, he stayed alone in one of the houses for two weeks. Due to security concerns, he was unable to use the heating or even the lights. Yet, he bore the cold and dark. He prayed to God to bestow him with victory and martyrdom.
He spent his nights, all the way to the last one, in worship. As dawn approached, he performed Ghusl al-Shahada [bath of martyrdom]. Due to the necessities of the execution, he performed the Morning Prayers in the car, which was driven towards the target with his determination and faith.
God has men who will what he wills. The large number of dead and wounded among the ranks of the Zionists was, first and foremost, the result of divine care. The operation was postponed for two days due to several reasons. On the night of the execution, it rained heavily and forced “Israeli” soldiers housed in tents to take cover in the Azmi building. They remained in the building all night and left the second day as stiff corpses and torn body parts.
One of the coincidences that came under the auspices of God Almighty is that days before the operation, the Zionists transferred the Lebanese detainees to the roof of the building after placing barbwire around it. Instead of using one of the floors below, the rooftop was transformed into a prison. When the explosion struck, the building was flattened and the roof was reduced to the same level as the ground below. Most of the Lebanese detainees were safe and sound. They were able to escape. Those who found themselves in the interrogation rooms at the time of the blast were martyred.
Ahmad Kassir drove his car slowly with a great deal of courage and trust. Moments before his arrival, one of the Zionist soldiers moved a vehicle blocking the main entrance. The martyr was meant to enter through that entrance. Another soldier lifted the shutters of the door. Thus, Ahmad’s way to martyrdom was cleared of any obstacles. He was able to defeat the Jews at a time when they were perceived as invincible.
And so Ahmad got his wish that always used to utter, “my greatest joy is that, God willing, I will inflict losses on those Jews the way they harmed our dignity and our people.”
The Palestinian and Lebanese resistance factions commemorate the martyrdom of the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees and its military wing, Al-Nasser Saladin Brigades, Jamal Abu Samhadana.
From the commemoration of Palestinian martyr Jamal Abu Samhadana on July 1, 2022
The Lebanese and Palestinian resistance factions commemorated Friday the martyrdom of Secretary-General Jamal Abu Samhadana, the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), and its military wing, Al-Nasser Saladin Brigades. The commemoration was attended by representatives of various Lebanese and Palestinian resistance factions such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Work must continue until ‘Israel’ despairs: Hezbollah
Settlements and agreements have not brought back one inch of land, while the resistance liberated land in Gaza and Lebanon, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said during the commemoration.
“We must continue working until Israel despairs trying to draw up its borders, and those who have resistance have the present and the future. The resistance must develop its capabilities beyond any limits,” he underlined.
“The war against Israel will not end until it ceases to exist, and the resistance everywhere is unified in confronting [the Israeli occupation],” the Hezbollah official added.
Samhadana broke partisanship: Hamas
Martyr Samhadana was one of the heroic leaders of resistance on Palestinian soil, said Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. “[He was one of the] turning points in the path of the Intifada, jihad, giving, and sacrificing in the sake of God, then the sake of Palestine and the sake of liberating Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds from the occupying invaders.”
“We are before a Palestinian icon who sacrificed himself, his possession, and his family for the [Palestinian flag] to fly high and to protect the dignity of Palestine and the Palestinian people,” Haniyeh added.
“The martyr broke the barriers of partisanship and the factions. Through his home, he was able to provide protection and shelter for Hamas and Ezzedine Qassam leaders, such as martyr Yahya Ayyash, brotherly leader Mohammad Deif, and jihadist leader Mohammad Al-Sinwar in the nineties, when they were in the iron sights of those close to them and their enemies,” he stressed, praising Samhadana’s role in the Palestinian struggle.
Martyrs, resistance fighters are able to stop collapse: PIJ
“The martyrs and those bearing arms are capable of putting an end to the collapse and bringing back balance to the Ummah,” PIJ leader Ziad Al-Nakhalah said. “They want the future of our region to be an alliance like NATO that extends from North Africa to the Gulf.”
“The martyrs are reshaping life with greater strength and determination than ever. We would not have a dignified life without the martyrs. The Zionist arrogance and corruption fill up our sky, air, and life, and the martyrs go from our ranks to bring an end to the humiliation and create a new world that is void of treacherous people,” Al-Nakhalah explained.
“The martyred founder of the Popular Resistance Committees, great leader Jamal Abu Samhadana, came out to tell all of those who were in the enemy’s corner that this was not their way, and the Palestinian people would not give up their rights and the history of Palestine in exchange for false promises, empty illusions, and agreements that gave the enemy our dreams and our children’s futures,” he said.
The resistance leader praised and thanked the Jenin Battalion and all of the factions that carry out resistance operations against the occupation in the Jenin refugee camp, Nablus, the West Bank, and the occupied territories. He also hailed the martyrs whom the Israeli occupation murdered.
“These are the days of Palestinian resistance that span Gaza and its heroic resistance fighters and the West Bank and Al-Quds. From leader Abu Samhadana in Gaza to leader Jamil Al-Amouri in Jenin. It is the tree of Jihad. It has firm roots, and its branches are in the sky.
PA must end security coordination: PRC
The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) still adhere to its principles, PRC Secretary-General Ayman Al-Shishniyeh said, explaining that the principles entailed “confronting the occupation and rejecting any regional alliance that includes the Zionist enemy.”
Al-Shishniyeh then warned the Israeli occupation against its aggressive acts toward Palestinian prisoners and called on the Palestinian authority to “stop [its] security coordination [with ‘Israel’] and stop betting on the failing US administration.”
At the same time as the commemoration in Lebanon, there was a memorial service in the Gaza Strip that saw several resistance factions and mass crowds participating to commemorate the martyrdom of Samhadana.
«لا تهدر الرصاص، ولا ترتعد أمام العدو» كانت تلك وصية أم الشهيد محمود العابد، لنجلها قبل خروجه لتنفيذ عملية اقتحام لإحدى المستوطنات الإسرائيلية خلال انتفاضة الأقصى الثانية. في فلسطين، خُلّدت صورُ لعشرات الأمهات وهنّ يودّعن أبنائهنّ قبيل رحيلهم للاستشهاد في عمليات بطولية ضد الاحتلال. في هذا التقرير، تستذكر «الأخبار» بعضاً من تلك المشاهد، لأمهات بِتن أيقونات وطنية، لا تجود حضارات الشعوب كثيراً بأمثالهن.
أم نضال فرحات القليل يعرف أن مريم محيسن، تحمل لقب «أم محمد»، لا «أم نضال». حملت الأم اسم ابنها محمد، رغم أنه ليس بكرها، فقد ظهرت «خنساء فلسطين» وهي تودع نجلها ابن الـ17 ربيعاً، قبل ذهابه لتنفيذ عملية فدائية، في مطلع شهر آذار من عام 2002؛ يومها، أردفت قبلات وداعها بوصيتها: «لا تعد إلي إلا مثخِناً في عدوك، محمولاً على أكتاف الرجال».
خاض محمد صاحب الملامح الطفولية، والذي رشحته أمّه إلى القائد العام لكتائب القسام آنذاك صلاح شحادة، لتنفيذ العملية، اشتباكاً شرساً مع حامية مستوطنة «عتصمونا» المقامة على أراضي القطاع، وحده، فقتل الحراس ثم اقتحم غرف الجنود وأطلق النار عليهم من مسافة صفر. وقد وصف التلفاز الإسرائيلي العملية بقوله: «عملية عتصمونا صعبة، وهي أكبر من عمر منفذها».
ولم ترحل «أم نضال» إلا بعدما قدمت في الطريق الذي ارتضته لنفسها، اثنين من أبنائها؛ فقد قضى ابنها البكر نضال في عام 2003، في عمر الحادية والثلاثين، وهو صانع صاروخ المقاومة الأول، وواضع بذرة تصنيع الطائرة المسيرة الأولى «أبابيل». ولم يكد يمضي عامان على رحيل البكر، حتى اغتالت الطائرات الإسرائيلية (في عام 2005)، رواد، ثالث أبنائها الشهداء، وأصغر أبنائها الستة.
عاد الشاب المقتحم، إلى أمه كما أوصته تماماً، بعد أن قتل تسعة من جنود الاحتلال في واحدة من أكثر مستوطنات القطاع تحصيناً. غير أن مشهدية وداعه، لم تكن إلا أول فصول عطاء الأم،، فقد آوت ابنة حي الشجاعية في منزلها، العشرات من المطاردين والمطلوبين، من أمثال عماد عقل، القائد القسامي الشاب، الذي اتخذ من منزلها منطلقاً لعملياته، قبل أن يقضي على أعتابه عقب حصار قوة كبيرة من جيش الاحتلال له.
رحلت أم نضال في عام 2013، بعدما واست الجميع، ورفضت أن يواسيها أحد. عايشت في حياتها فقد الأبناء «قتلاً وأسراً»، وفقدان البيت الذي قصف أربع مرات.
أم محمد الشيخ خليل (أم رضوان) «نذرت من أبنائي ثلاثة فداءً لفلسطين… لكنهم زادوا إلى خمسة» هذا ما كانت قد عزمت عليه فاطمة يوسف الجزار، أمّ القائد العسكري الأبرز لـ«سرايا القدس» في الانتفاضة الثانية، محمد الشيخ خليل.
ابنة مخيم يبنا للاجئين جنوب قطاع غزة، بدأت حياتها مع الفقد مبكراً، بعدما طُورد نجلاها شرف وأشرف، واضطرا لمغادرة القطاع خلال انتفاضة الحجارة في عام 1987، ليستقر بهما المطاف في لبنان. هناك، قضى نجلها الأول خلال مشاركته في عملية بليدا الفدائية، بالاشتراك مع المقاومة الإسلامية؛ وبعدها بعامٍ واحد، فقدت «أم المجاهدين» نجلها الثاني خلال مشاركته في التصدي لإنزال جوي إسرائيلي.
غير أن انتفاضة الأقصى الثانية، ستحمل القسط الأكبر من فاتورة العطاء، إذ سطع نجم نجلها محمد، كأحد أبرز القادة العسكريين لـ«سرايا القدس»؛ إذ خطط وأشرف على تنفيذ العشرات من العمليات الفدائية، التي تميّزت جميعها بالدقة العالية في التخطيط، والإبداع في التنفيذ.
عايشت الحاجة «المجاهدين» في كثير من ليالي رباطهم، سنوات الفقد المتتالية. وبدأت باكورتها المعاصرة في عام 2004 باغتيال نجلها المهندس محمود، ثم وبعد عدة محاولات اغتيال، نجحت طائرات الاحتلال في عام 2005 في اغتيال نجلها القائد محمد، وبذلك، زادت الأم على نذرها واحداً، ووقفت والدة الشهداء الأربعة على رأس نجلها الرابع مؤكدة: «والله لو 100 ابن، ما وجدت لهم طريقاً أشرف ولا أعز من طريق المقاومة».
وبعد ستة أعوام، عادت أم محمد، إلى واجهة المشهد، فقدمت نجلها الأصغر أحمد، في عام 2011، الذي قضى إثر عملية اغتيال خلال تنفيذه تجارب صاروخية. يومها أمّ الصحافيون منزلها لرصد مشهدية الوداع الخامسة، وأمام الجسد المسجى، سألها أحد الصحافيين، ألم تكتفِ يا أم رضوان لتجيب: «لا حل لهذا الوجع إلا بمزيد من المقاومة، سأستمر في تقديم الشهداء حتى يأذن الله بالنصر… على استعداد أن أقدم بقية أولادي من أجل القدس. لن تكسر دبابات الاحتلال إرادتنا، وسنبقى على العهد ما حيينا».
رحلت «خنساء الأمة» كما يسميها الناس في غزة، بعد صراع مع المرض في عام 2016، وكانت رددت في وداع كل أبنائها: «سلم على أخوك… لن أتأخر عليكم».
عطاء مستمرّ أم جبر وشاح، وأم إبراهيم الدحدوح، وأم جهاد شيخ العيد، وأم إبراهيم بارود وأم أحمد السكافي، وغيرهن الكثير؛ هؤلاء جميعهن، صنعن الصورة الفارقة للأمهات الفلسطينيات، اللواتي عرفن جيداً، كيفية كونهن أمهات أكبر من حدود العائلة. أمهات فلسطين.
On a trip with the martyr Soleimani from Mehrabad Airport to Kerman, a young man approached Haj Qassem and said “I would very much like to see you closely and to talk together. Are you going to Kerman?”
Haj Qassem answered: “Yes.” Haj Qassem addressed me and said “take the flight ticket from this young man, and give him yours so that he can sit next to me.”
For an hour and a half, Haj Qassem and the young man were discussing different matters and issues throughout the flight. On January 3rd Haj Qassem was killed by US special ops and was martyred. In the afternoon the young man showed up at the ceremonies in the Kerman Husayniyeh. We were busy arranging for the funeral when I suddenly saw a young man approach me with tears in his eyes. He addressed me and said “Don’t you remember me?” I apologized and said I do not have presence of mind since I was busy and unfocused. He reminded me of that one and a half hour he got to spend with Haj Qassem when we exchanged flight itineraries. The young man said “Haj Qassem saved my life.”
He then took out a key from his pocket and said “This is the key to my house, my house is open to anyone who has come from a far place and has nowhere to stay and wants to participate in the funeral of Haj Qassem. This is what I can offer and I wish I could offer more. The words of Haj Qassem during that flight changed my life. He put some sense back into my head and showed me the right way and from that day on I was born again to become a good person.”
Told by former Head of the Foundation of Sacred Defense
In good times and bad times he was there…
When my father passed away, Haj Qassem with his hectic days and nights and all the responsibilities he had on his plate, did not forget to call me and pay condolences. For someone like General Soleimani who has barely time to rest or eat, it means a lot when he does such a thing. He was a humble person and was never proud with who he was and what he did. He never believed he was better than other people and cared about everyone around him.
The story does not stop here, he actually showed up at my father’s funeral the next day to take part in the ceremonies. Maybe another commander who is fighting terrorism and extremism represented by Daesh in an entire region would not take time to think about such issues, but he was present everywhere and he was a backbone to everyone.
His personality was extraordinary and he would communicate with everyone, young and old, poor and rich, famous and ordinary. He was there for all of us during the good and bad times.
There was this other incident when we were present at the wedding of my friend’s daughter. The last thing that would come to mind is that he show up in such a place while being busy fighting an existential threat to all people, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Secular, people from all faiths and walks of life.
He was honest and humble in his interaction with everyone around and he was always there for everyone to help and support. He was a man for everyone.
Told by Iranian Expert Dr. Masoud Asadollahi
A true father
The families of the martyrs loved Hajj Qassem. For instance, when he would go to visit the children of Martyr Maghfouri, who was one of the leaders of Tharallah battalion, they would feel like their father has come to visit them especially Fatima, Maghfouri’s daughter. He truly believed he was a father to them. One time Fatima’s child fell ill, and he needed surgery. Haj Qassem, the commander of the Quds Force was at war in Syria and Iraq helping defeat Daesh, the extremist groups that killed everyone and sabotaged everything. He must have been working day and night to fulfill his duties. When Haj Qassem knew, he took off and went to the hospital, and waited until the little kid underwent the surgery.
Fatima then told him, “Uncle Qassem, you should go, duty calls you and you are still sitting here.”
And this was Haj Qassem’s reaction: “Np, I have to sit here and wait until your child wakes up from surgery.” This was how he dealt with the sons of the martyrs, he contacted them weekly, brought them gifts, sent them letters from the front wars, and took care of them in person when needed.
Al Mayadeen correspondent says Israeli media claimed an attempted car-ramming occurred near the Israeli Dotan military checkpoint against IOF soldiers.
Israeli media claimed that the car tried to ram Israeli soldiers
Al Mayadeen correspondent reports receiving news of an alleged attempt of car-ramming against Israeli soldiers near an Israeli military checkpoint, in the north of the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reported that the Israeli occupation “shot a Palestinian who tried to car-ram a number of Israeli soldiers near Jenin.”
Palestinian media quoted local sources as saying the occupation soldiers on Tuesday targeted a young man’s car with live ammunition, wounding him and setting his car on fire, near the Dotan military checkpoint, which is located on the lands of Ya’bad town, southwest of Jenin.
Local witnesses said the car exploded after it was completely engulfed by fire, while the plain of Ya’bad witnessed a massive deployment of the occupation forces.
Palestinian factions mourn the martyr
Resistance Committees in Palestine mourned the “heroic martyr who carried out the heroic car-ramming operation near the Zionist Dotan checkpoint, south of Jenin.”
The Resistance Committees noted that this operation against the Israeli occupation’s soldiers was “a natural response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy against our prisoners in Zionist prisons.”
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) also mourned the martyr of the Jenin operation. The DFLP said the Jenin operation was proof that “our Palestinian people will not forget their captives and prisoners.”
“This is a revolution that will not stop or retreat, no matter what the challenges and sacrifices may be, until the end of the occupation and the establishment of our Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim tweeted.
كما هي مدينة جنين دائماً .. ثائرة مقاتلة منتفضة..
عملية مقاومة جديدة في جنين القسام يرد بها الشباب الثائر على جرائم الاحتلال ضد شعبنا وخاصة الأسيرات والأسرى.
هذه ثورة لن تتوقف أو تتراجع مهما بلغت التحديات والتضحيات حتى إنهاء الاحتلال وإقامة دولتنا الفلسطينية وعاصمتها القدس
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) spokesperson for the West Bank Tariq Ezzedine confirmed that the escalation of guerrilla operations in the occupied West Bank was evidence of the resistance’s “vitality and continuity towards escalation, and a response to the crimes of the Zionist occupation.”
High tension in Israeli Prisons
The Israeli occupation’s prisons are in a state of high tension, Al Mayadeen correspondent reported, underscoring that there had been no contact with any prisoners in Section 12, which rendered the fate of some 80 prisoners unknown.
“Many are fearing for the lives of the Section 12 prisoners in Nafha prison over the Israeli prisons administration’s systemic suppression campaign,” our correspondent said, noting that some of the prisoners are ill and of the elderly.
It is noteworthy that Israeli media reported on December 17th, that one settler was killed and two others were wounded in an alleged shooting attack at the entrance to the Homesh settlement in the West Bank.
In turn, Israeli settlers attacked, on December 18th, several citizens in their homes in the village of Qaryut, south of Nablus. In addition, settlers destroyed a number of vehicles near the entrance of the town of Sebastia, north of Nablus.
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The following is the full text of the speech delivered on November 21, 2021, by Leader of the Islamic Revolution, His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with the officials in charge of conducting the Martyrs of Ilam Commemoration Ceremony.
Imam Khamenei’s statements in this meeting were broadcast on Thursday, December 2, at the site of the Martyrs of Ilam Commemoration Ceremony.
The speech stated the following:
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Praise God, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master, Muhammad, and upon his pure Household.
You are very welcome here, dear brothers and sisters. I thank you very much for organizing this Commemoration Ceremony and for making this very valuable move. I saw the exhibition before coming into the Hussainiyyah, and the services rendered are very good. Of course, these peripheral, promotional activities should be carried out very much at such commemoration ceremonies, and I hope God will help you to do so.
During the Sacred Defense, Ilam was like a strong fortress. Although some cities of the province were lost for a short period of time – some areas of the province were occupied by the vicious Munafiqeen [MEK] – the province stood firm like a mountain, similar to the Meimak Summit which I stood on and where I witnessed the magnificent work done by our dear soldiers. The province of Ilam stood up to the vicious enemy, Saddam and his collaborators, just like that summit.
First of all, the province was attacked sooner than other provinces, as mentioned by the gentlemen in this meeting. The enemy attacked Ilam before it officially attacked Tehran and other parts of the country. And the first martyr – martyred on a Saturday, as pointed out by one of the gentlemen – was actually martyred before the outbreak of the war in Ilam. In other words, the entire population of the province of Ilam were among those involved in the Sacred Defense.
Later on too, some unique events took place in Ilam. Unfortunately, our own people are not aware of these events, let alone other nations which are interested to know about the incidents and events that have taken place in our country. Even our own people are not aware of these events, much less those nations. One of those events was the bombardment of a soccer match where children were playing soccer in the year 1365 AH [1987 AD].
On February 12, 1987, two young teams from Ilam played in a soccer match in commemoration of the 7th victory of the Revolution. The people had gathered there as well as spectators, but an Iraqi plane struck them from up close. In other words, it knew what was happening there. It is not the case that it dropped bombs by accident. It dropped them on purpose, and as a result, 10 of those soccer players were martyred. The referee, a number of children and some spectators were martyred as well. This is not a minor incident. This is a very important event.
It is necessary for these events to be made known to people on a global level. They should be repeatedly mentioned here and there, because this is the message of the innocence of our athletic martyrs whose only crime was that they had organized a soccer match for the Islamic Republic. With the support of which power did the malicious Saddam commit that appalling, brazen crime? Who was behind him?
The same people who used to support that bloodthirsty wolf on that day are claiming to be advocates of human rights today! They describe themselves as the guardians of human rights throughout the whole world. There is so much brazenness and shamelessness in the actions of these powers. Who should reveal their true colors? Who should reveal these truths? Our artists and our writers have a heavy load on their shoulders. They have a heavy duty. These things should be presented to the world using art as the medium. They should make films about these events. In the case of the massacre at the soccer match, they should write stories, make films and compose memoirs. These actions should be taken.
One of the unique characteristics of the province of Ilam is that there are families with two, three, four, five, six or ten martyrs – as pointed out by the gentlemen. There is one family with ten martyrs, another with nine, another with eight and some with five or six martyrs. This is only easy in words, but it is truly difficult to even think about it. Ilam is like this. There are such families in Ilam. It was mentioned that some members of these families are present in this Commemoration Ceremony. I hope that God will bestow His mercy and grace on all of you.
Another characteristic of Ilam was the wholehearted presence of people from all social backgrounds, from scholars to the common people. For instance, the late Sheikh Abdulrahman Heidari (may God’s mercy be upon him) was with me on the Meimak Hills. He was with me at the top of that summit. He was with me everywhere I went. I visited Ilam several times, both before and after my presidency. He was always present in the field of battle as long as he was alive. He would take his gun and was ready to fight at all times in the true sense of the word.
The same is true of the common people and the numerous tribes in Ilam. Those who could fight were present in the field and the masses of the people helped in the resistance. One of the gentlemen in the meeting stated that the people did not leave the city. I myself saw this with my own eyes in the city of Ilam. The enemy planes would regularly strike the city repeatedly. In those times, no one would remain on the streets and the people would go to one of the deserts or forests around the city. After the bombardment had finished, they would go back to the city. That is, this way of leaving and coming back to the city had become a routine activity for the people. But they never completely left the city or the province, and they stood firm.
It was during the time of those bombardments and in that difficult situation that a genius, namely Martyr Rezaei-Nejad, grew up. Martyr Rezaei-Nejad was a nuclear scientist who was martyred. His scientific importance was so immense that the enemy felt his existence would help the Islamic Republic progress, and so they assassinated him. They martyred him in front of his wife and small daughter. That young scientist had spent his youth witnessing those bombardments and those difficult circumstances in Ilam. In other words, the pressures brought by the enemy and the war could not stop the people of this province from showing their talents. This is very important. People like this dear martyr – Martyr Rezaei-Nejad – have a high spiritual status as well as a scientific status. The reason for their high spiritual status is the fact that they were martyred, because martyrdom is not achieved easily. Martyrdom and obtaining this rank require the existence of certain prerequisites in the nature and actions of individuals. Without these prerequisites, martyrdom is not granted to anyone. That young scientist possessed that high spiritual status, and that was why he was martyred. Otherwise, one will not become a martyr without these qualities.
An important point is that the province of Ilam has given over three thousand martyrs. Other provinces too have each given many martyrs in proportion with their population and their situation. We should understand the concept of martyrdom correctly because martyrdom does not mean merely being a victim of the war. Well, there are many people who participate in wars and who are killed in their countries’ wars. Many of them are killed in defending the geographical borders of their country and are remembered as patriots and heroes. Of course, some are mercenaries, but the rest are remembered as I’ve said.
However, our martyrs are not like this. Those of our soldiers who were martyred or disabled were not just trying to defend the geographical borders of the country. They were also struggling to defend the borders of belief, morality, religion, culture and the spiritual borders. Of course, defending the borders of the country is a valuable act in itself. This has value, but it is not as important as both fighting for these important concepts and defending the borders of the country. Our martyrs are like this.
If we want to look at this at a higher level, our martyrs are in fact the manifestation of this verse, “Indeed Allah has bought from the faithful their souls and their possessions for paradise to be theirs.” [Holy Qur’an, 9:111] In other words, they have dealt with their lives with God. This is how martyrs are. There is another holy verse which says, “Among the faithful are men who fulfill what they have pledged to Allah. Of them are some who have fulfilled their pledge, and of them are some who still wait.” [Holy Qur’an, 33:23] They were true to the pledge they had made with God, the Exalted. A martyr is like this. Martyrdom is an act of making a pledge and dealing with God.
That is why you see that the soldiers who are fighting in the way of God are different from other common soldiers in the world. Those of you who have witnessed the Sacred Defense and those of you have read books on this topic surely know that the pious soldiers in the Sacred Defense, or the soldiers who have defended in other areas such as defending the Holy Shrines and the like, are purer during fighting and in the field of battle than at other times. They also rely more on God, show more humility and observe the divine limits more carefully.
It is common in the world for a victorious army to loot, plunder and inflict great cruelty in a city, but this is not the case for our soldiers. Even if those who fight in the way of God win, not only does their piety not decrease and they do not stop observing the divine limits, they are even more careful to observe God’s limits because of their gratefulness for their victory. Our soldiers would take some of the enemy captive. This was the same enemy who would torture and harass our captives from the time they took them captive up until the time they entered the camp where they were to be kept. And it is clear what they did to them in those camps. But if our soldiers took those same people captive, they would heal them if they were injured and they would give them water if they were thirsty. They would treat them as if they were one of themselves. So, these are very important points.
The Islamic lifestyle seen in the behavior of our soldiers and our martyrs is too important to be disregarded. There are so many inspirational points to be seen in the lives of our martyrs that our artists should truly portray an artistic picture of this for the whole world. They should introduce the Iranian soldiers to the world. They should place our soldiers in front of the eyes of the people throughout the world with their great artistic works.
Well, the Commemoration Ceremony that you have organized should open our ears to the message of the martyrs. They tell us, “[The martyrs are] rejoicing for those who have not yet joined them from [those left] behind them that they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.” [Holy Qur’an, 3:170] This path is one that is free from any fear, worry and concern because it is the path of God.
We should be steadfast on this path and move with strength. We should not falter on this path with the temptations of the enemies. The Iranian nation should increase its unity, solidarity, motivation and efforts when it hears the martyrs’ message. This is the message of the martyrs to us. When hearing the message of the martyrs, the officials of the Islamic Republic should feel more responsible toward society and ensure security in the way the martyrs did. Everyone should feel responsible. And all of us should pay attention to this fact that no nation will get anywhere without diligence, struggling in the way of God and enduring hardships. If there are any hardships, enduring those hardships will help the Iranian nation reach the peak, God willing.
I hope that God, the Exalted, will bestow success on all of you, that He will grant His mercy and forgiveness to the dear martyrs of Ilam and all martyrs of the country, that He will associate our magnanimous Imam – who opened this path to us and who brought guidance to the people of the country – with His Friends, with the great guides who have come throughout history, with the prophets and with the Imams (greetings be upon them), and that He will bestow success on you as well.
The subjects discussed by the gentlemen – the suggestions and requests they put forward – are primarily related to the executive organizations. These should be submitted to them, but I will ask them to pursue the matter. You too should pursue the matter as well. I will do so as well.
May God’s greetings, mercy and blessings be upon you.
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Mohamad Raad said, “We smell a coup against the Taif Agreement. This coup aims at reassuring the ‘Israeli’ enemy that the Lebanese people can’t face its aggression, so that it dictates its normalization and authoritarian policies and control even deciding the fate of our gas wealth in our territorial waters, as gas exploration is confined to certain companies of certain countries. Despite all this, we still talk about independence and sovereignty, but we are incapable of building one power facility that supplies Lebanon with power 24/7”.
Raad made the statement during the memorial ceremony held by Hezbollah on the 40th day on the passing of Martyr Muhammad Jamal Tamer.
He added, “Our national currency collapsed because it depends on foreign currency. Tomorrow, our policy will collapse because it also depends on foreign policies. If the Lebanese people want this, it’s up to them, but we are sacrificing our blood and souls to protect those who don’t know where there interest is in this period. Is it required that we commit suicide so that others are satisfied? We are keen to preserve the common living in this country; we want it to rule sovereignly and independently, and that its interests are in accordance with the aspirations, will, and national decision”.
“If anyone thinks that the equation has gone wrong and that the power balance became in the interest of the ‘Israeli’ axis and normalization and wants to turn against the Taif, we tell our people to pay attention to this miscalculation because Lebanon has gotten out of the ‘Israeli’ era and will not return to it; as all the methods of force that were used to twist the arm of the Resistance failed, and the sponsors of strife realized that the Resistance benefits from the national consensus on its role in Lebanon. So, let us not allow a faction of the Lebanese to undermine this consensus… The weapon of the Resistance has become on everyone’s lips, and media outlets have been bought in order to promote this issue,” Raad added.
Regarding the Tayouneh crime, Raad said, “What happened is not just a clash between the people of two areas, it’s rather a designed and planned aggression in order to cause a strife and to push people to fight among themselves and mess up the whole situation, so that the killer gives his credentials to the people who hired and pay him regionally or internationally”.
Raad concluded saying, “From now on and without wasting time and opportunities, let’s figure things out. Don’t let anybody drag you to a new civil war in order to impose on you a settlement with new balances of power, as long as people are open to each other and ready for dialogue, and as long as they appreciate their common interests and have no enemies but one enemy, which is still occupying our land”.
Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that efforts to bring Muslims together throughout the Islamic world, since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, contributed to enabling a level of cohesion for overcoming the current stage. He further noted that the coherent and solid base at the Islamic level, especially between Sunnis and Shiites, maintains a measure of balance, cooperation, unity, and the ability to stand up to the winds to which our world and our region are exposed.
In his speech during the 35th International Conference on Islamic Unity held in Tehran, Sayyed Nasrallah underscored that the accomplishments stemming from years of conferences and meetings helped to overcome the harsh phase that we endured, which was threatening the Islamic world with sectarian wars.
“With God’s help and awareness, insight, the presence of honest people and the blood of the martyrs, this stage has been overcome,” Sayyed Nasrallah explained.
In parallel, he stressed that the arrogant American and “Israeli” campaign to disrupt the efforts of Muslims still exists. This requires us to have hope and sit down again, think, program, plan and make effort to reach the desired goal, which is rapprochement and unity among Muslims and not to give the enemies of the nation any opportunity to exploit differences or variations in their favor.
He also underlined that we have to benefit from previous experiences, from strengths and weaknesses, feasible and beneficial actions in order to develop. Meanwhile, we must abandon useless ones so that we do not waste time, energy, money, and capabilities. We must also try to look for frameworks and good ideas, and this must be given an opportunity.
“We are always being targeted, and the most significant aspects being targeted are rapprochement, harmony, and cooperation. When we were united, we created victories,” Hezbollah’s Secretary-General explained.
His Eminence underscored the necessity to build on the past and consider this matter as one of the major national priorities to thwart the enemy’s plots.
Sayyed Nasrallah suggested that the formation of a committee in which all the countries of the Islamic world would be represented should emerge from this conference and prepare for a direct meeting. They must represent their countries in order to evaluate the experience of previous decades and build on them and set goals for the next stage.
Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered on Sunday a speech during the memorial ceremony of martyr Hajj Abbas Al-Yatama.
At the beginning of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah offered condolences to the family of martyr Al-Yatama as well all his beloved people, congratulating them for the fact that this prominent leader has reached his goals. “I personally know martyr Al-Yatama, who belongs to the generation of Hezbollah’s establishment in 1982,” he said, noting that “When speaking about people like Hajj Abbas Al-Yatama, I like to recall the founding generation of the Islamic Resistance, they’re the people of 1982.”
On the characteristics of the martyr, His Eminence highlighted that “Martyr Abbas had a beautiful soul, like his beautiful appearance. He was brave and courageous.”
He recalled that Abu Maitham “joined this resistance at the age of 17, and soon his personal characteristics became evident in front of his brothers. Martyr Abbas started as a fighter, then a trainer and later assumed various leadership responsibilities. He was personally present in the field operations.”
According to the Resistance Leader, “Among the personal characteristics of the martyr Abbas were faith, etiquette, forbearance, patience and good behavior. He further possessed excellent leadership capabilities.”
“Martyr Abbas was one of the military leaders in the South. He is from Hermel and he was as a resistance’s military leader in the South,” he stated, pointing out that “Martyr Abbas, like his brothers, the rest of the martyrs are witnesses that the honorable people of this region embraced the resistance and sacrificed it with the best of their youth.”
In addition Sayyed Nasrallah unveiled that “Abu Maitham was among the military leaders who took part in the July war in South Lebanon, and he was the one who wrote the letter of the Mujahideen [for me] during the war, which conveys his loyalty to the resistance.”
Sayyed Nasrallah further revealed that “When the events in Syria began, martyr Abbas was one of the first leaders who joined the battle and was present in the most dangerous places. Abu Maitham has been to the most dangerous zones from Aleppo, to the besieged city and airport, as well as the road of Ethriya-Khanaser.”
“Martyr Al-Yatama was a field commander next to senior Syrian Army commanders, resistance leaders such as Haj Mustafa Badriddine, and Iranian Generals in Syria, atop of whom was martyr leader Hajj Qassem Soleimani,” His Eminence added.
Emphasizing that “The secret of the resistance’s strength is that it has never sought gains here or there,” Sayyed Nasrallah lamented the fact that “Since the establishment of the state, the Bekaa region has received nothing but deprivation and negligence, but return it has offered honesty, the best of its youth and pure blood.”
“These people spared nothing, neither in confronting the Zionist scheme nor the American project. The people of Baalbek-Hermel did not wait for anyone to defend their villages and all of Lebanon,” he said.
Moving to the political front, Hezbollah Secretary General explained that “The Americans do believe that we are people who seek the worldly life, as if by threatening us with this life they might be able to change our stance. They didn’t understand until now what does it mean to belong to the Islam pf Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and the Karbala of Imam Hussein [AS].”
In parallel, His Eminence clarified that “The battle that is being waged in Lebanon against the resistance and the true national forces has been run by the American embassy since 2005. However, they have failed.”
On this level, he uncovered that “Tens of billions of dollars have been spent since 2005 in order to distort the image of the resistance, and they failed.”
“The US seeks to set Lebanon under its control so that it does not pose any threat to “Israel”,” Sayyed Nasrallah reminded, warning that “The US embassy in Lebanon is responsible for targeting the livelihood of the Lebanese people as it interferes in every single aspect.”
He also underscored that “The US and Saudi embassies have been working in the past years to ignite a civil war in Lebanon. The American embassy wants to make Lebanon move into chaos. It seeks to strike the Lebanese society and the Lebanese person with his dignity and family.”
Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that “After spending $30 billion for political parties that were not able to serve them, they turned to the civil society.”
Urging the Lebanese state to shoulder its responsibility in facing the current crisis, he viewed that “It is not Hezbollah that can open the country in front of Chinese and Russian companies for investment. This is the state’s duty. We urged them to buy from Iran by the Lebanese pound, and they replied that the Americans would put us on the sanctions list. We offered the state options and proposals for which it turned a deaf ear, and Lebanon continued in the path of declining.”
Amid this negligence, Sayyed Nasrallah clearly announced: “Our second ship will sail from Iran within days, and other ships will follow.”
He further stressed that “It is not a matter of one ship or two; this is a path which we will keep moving on as long as Lebanon needs it,” noting that “The goal is to help all the Lebanese people and ease their sufferings.”
However, His Eminence assured that “We-in Hezbollah- are neither a substitute for the state nor for importing companies or stations. We do not want to compete with anyone.”
“We will bring in fair amounts of oil derivatives to ease the pressure against companies, gas stations and the black market,” he said, noting that his party seeks “to break the greedy prices and ease the people’s sufferings.”
In this context, Sayyed Nasrallah went on to say: “We are not supposed to bring Lebanon’s full demand of gasoline and diesel but rather good quantities that alleviate pressure off the companies and the stations.”
Once again, he urged the government to alleviate the suffering of the people and assume its responsibilities.
In parallel, Sayyed Nasrallah denounced “Those monopolizing oil derivatives” calling for arresting and imprisoning them.
Regarding US ambassador Dorothy Shea’s initiative towards Lebanon, His Eminence welcomed the Egyptian gas, the Jordanian electricity project and anything that might help Lebanon.
However, His Eminence reminded that “If the US seeks to help Lebanon, it should lift its veto on providing support to Lebanon.”
To the Lebanese people, he elaborated that “What is important for the Lebanese to know is that the proposal of the American ambassador requires a period between 6 months and 1 year to be done. The US project needs negotiations with Syria and could not be performed in the dark night.”
“The US ambassador is talking illusions, but in case her project could be achieved we won’t be annoyed as this means breaking the siege on Lebanon and Syria.”
To the US administration and its ambassador in Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah said: “If you want to help Lebanon, tell your administration to stop preventing other countries from helping Lebanon, and we wouldn’t want neither your initiative nor your money.”
On another level, Sayyed Nasrallah asked “Who will shoulder the responsibility for the Tuleil incident in Akkar, and where did the investigations reach?”
To the Lebanese government, Hezbollah Secretary General said: “If you accept, we have companies that are able to extract oil and gas and sell it. The companies that I mentioned are not afraid of the “Israeli” bombing, and they can extract gas and oil and sell it. If the companies fear “Israel” and the sanctions, we are willing to bring an Iranian drilling company to extract offshore oil and gas, and let “Israel” bomb it.”
“The Resistance after July 2006 war became stronger and after every battle it maintained its existence and ended stronger than before,” he said, concluding that “The enemy and the Americans, and their affiliates, will discover that their popular and political losses will be very huge.”
Hezbollah mourned on Friday the martyr Mohammad Tahhan who was killed by the Zionist fire during a demonstration on the Lebanese-Palestinian borders in support of Gaza against the Israeli aggression.
Al-Manar reporter mentioned that the Zionist occupation forces opened fire at a popular demonstration on Lebanon’s border with the occupied Palestine, adding that the martyr was holding the Palestinian flag when he was shot by the enemy troops.
126 Palestinians were martyred and 950 others were injured in the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza. The Palestinian resistance has fired around 2500 missiles at the Zionist cities and settlements since the start of the aggression on May 10, inflicting heavy losses upon the Israelis.
Israeli warplanes attacked several locations in the Gaza Strip. (Photo: Mahmoud Ajjour, The Palestine Chronicle
32 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza following Israeli security forces’ crackdowns on Jerusalem worshippers and unarmed protesters. Follow our regularly updated Live Blog below for more information.
Wednesday, May 12, 05:16 (GMT+3)
Israel dispatches 80 more war planes to take part in the bombing of Gaza.
Thousands of Israeli soldiers sent to areas adjacent to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israel resumes bombing of Palestinian homes and other targets in Gaza.
Number of Palestinian causalities in Gaza rises to 35; hundreds more wounded.
Number of Israeli casualties rises to 5.
Wednesday, May 12, 03:45 (GMT+3)
The latest by our editor Ramzy Baroud, published in Middle East Monitor.
— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) May 12, 2021
Wednesday, May 12, 01:41 (GMT+3)
1500 Palestinians face expulsion in #Jerusalem. 200 protesters have been injured. 9 children have been killed. Sanctions on South Africa helped free its black people – it’s time for sanctions on Israel to free Palestinians. Join the call. #SheikhJarrahhttps://t.co/f9R6LYljez
REUTERS: “A 13-story residential block in Gaza collapsed after one of several dozen Israeli air strikes.”
Wednesday, May 12, 01:24 (GMT+3)
Caught on film – Israeli occupation forces repeatedly punch an unarmed Palestinian young man detained outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem this evening. https://t.co/qShvkTbbjI
BREAKING: Israeli army says it has carried out over 500 strikes against ‘Palestinian targets’ in the Gaza Strip.
Wednesday, May 12, 00:48 (GMT+3)BREAKING | Israeli war planes resume Gaza bombardment; number of deaths rises to 32 Palestinians and wounded to 220. BREAKING | Israel destroys the Hanadi residential tower in Gaza city which is made of 13 stories and many flats. Causalities are yet to be reported. BREAKING | Two Israelis reportedly killed in Tel Aviv as a result of rockets coming from Gaza. BREAKING | Israeli government plans to send 16 army units to the Arab city of Lod inside Israel to suppress mass protests. More than one hundred Palestinians inside Israel were arrested in the last 24 hours. Earlier, a Palestinian protester – Musa Hassouna – was killed by Israeli police. (Source: Aljazeera Arabic)
Palestinians bury woman, her son in Gaza’s Shati Refugee Camp. (Photo: Fawzi Mahmoud, The Palestine Chronicle)
Wednesday, May 12, 00:08 (GMT+3)
US Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders’ Facebook statement on the Israeli escalation in Palestine:
“I am extremely concerned by the growing conflict in Israel and Palestine. Once again we are seeing how the irresponsible actions of government-allied right-wing extremists in Jerusalem can escalate quickly into devastating war. Israeli children should not have to spend the night scared in bomb shelters, as many are doing tonight. Palestinian children should not have to grow up under the constant violence and oppression of occupation, as so many do, and have done. The United States must call for an immediate cease-fire and an end to provocative and illegal settlement activity. And we must also recommit to working with Israelis and Palestinians to finally end this conflict.”
Wednesday, May 12, 00:03 (GMT+3)
Egyptian international footballer Mohammed Salah tweets in solidarity with Palestine.
I’m calling on all the world leaders including on the Prime Minister of the country that has been my home for the past 4 years to do everything in their power to make sure the violence and killing of innocent people stops immediately. Enough is enough. @BorisJohnson
Al Jazeera: Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has been reopened.
Tuesday, May 11, 10:30 pm (GMT+3)
Media Reports: Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has been shut down and all flights to Israel have been diverted to Greece and Cyprus.
Tuesday, May 11, 9:30 pm (GMT+3)
The US State Department released a statement on the situation in Palestine, Israel. Here are a few excerpts as communicated by spokesman Ned Price:
“We are deeply concerned about the escalation between Israel and those launching rockets from Gaza and we call for restraint and for calm.
“Israel has a right to defend itself and to respond to rocket attacks. The Palestinian people also have the right to safety and security, just as Israelis do,” said Price.
“We are deeply concerned about the reported loss of life in Gaza, in Israel, including the deaths of children as well as many innocent civilians injured.”
Tuesday, May 11, 9:00 pm (GMT+3)+++BREAKING+++Gaza resistance groups say they targeted Tel Aviv with 130 rockets starting at 9 PM Palestine time (GMT+3), in response to Israeli strikes targeting Palestinian residential areas. (Source: Al Jazeera)
Tuesday, May 11, 5:00 pm (GMT+3)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will intensify its Gaza strikes.
נתניהו בפיקוד הדרום: "אנחנו בעיצומה של מערכה. נגביר עוד את קצב ועוצמת התקיפות – החמאס יקבל כאן מכות שהוא לא ציפה להן. הדבר כרוך גם בסבלנות ובהקרבה מסוימת מצד אזרחי ישראל"@gilicohen10 (צילום: לע"מ) pic.twitter.com/m9hQHfthVw
“At the conclusion of a situational assessment, it was decided that both the might of the attacks and the frequency of the attacks will be increased,” he said in a video statement.
Tuesday, May 11, 4:20 pm (GMT+3)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas received a letter from US President Joe Biden regarding the latest political developments, current situations, and bilateral relations between the United States and the State of Palestine.
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) May 11, 2021
Tuesday, May 11, 4 pm (GMT+3)
Former leader of the UK Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn, strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza and al-Aqsa.
“Deliberately provocative attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque and the ongoing home invasions #SheikhJarrah have led to horrendous violence in Jerusalem,” he said in a Twitter post.
Deliberately provocative attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque and the ongoing home invasions #SheikhJarrah have led to horrendous violence in Jerusalem. As the occupying power, the Israeli government has it in its gift to rectify the current situation and not exacerbate it. #Palestine
“As the occupying power, the Israeli government has it in its gift to rectify the current situation and not exacerbate it,” Corbyn added.
Tuesday, May 11, 12:30 am (GMT+3)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz called in troop reinforcements near the fence separating besieged Gaza Strip from Israel.
Tuesday, May 11, 11:30 am (GMT+3)
At least two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck a residential building in Gaza, bringing the total number of deaths to 26.
26 Palestinians killed including 9 children, 122 others injured after a night of non stop Israeli bombardment targeting #Gaza from North to South focusing on homes, public facilities & commercial buildings.
Gaza Health Ministry said that three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight, including an elderly woman and a man with special needs, so taking the total number to 24.
At least 103 people were wounded, according to the Ministry.
Monday, May 10, 9:50 pm (GMT+3)
The number of people killed in an Israeli airstrike today on the northern Gaza Strip was put at 20, including nine children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
An Israeli drone fired missiles at a group of people east of Beit Hanoun, killing 20, among them nine children, and injuring 65 others, three of them critical.
Monday, May 10, 8:30 pm (GMT+3)
The US Administration has “serious concerns about the situation” in Jerusalem, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.
Among the martyrs were a disabled man and his mother who were killed after Israeli warplanes struck an apartment building in the al-Shati camp near Gaza city.#GazaUnderAttackhttps://t.co/6lDQA18lUg
Ayatollah Khamenei delivers a televised speech on the occasion of the International Quds Day on Friday, May 7, 2021. (Photo by Leader.ir)
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has marked the International Quds Day, saying Israel is not a country but a terrorist base against the people of Palestine and other Muslim nations.
“Since the first day, the Zionists turned the usurped Palestine into a terrorist base. Israel is not a country, rather it is a terrorist camp against the Palestinian nation and other Muslim nations,” the Leader said on Friday.
“Fighting against this despotic regime is fighting against oppression and terrorism. And this is a collective responsibility,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
The Leader voiced confidence that the downward movement of the Zionist regime has already started and “it will never stop”.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the issue of Palestine continues to be the most important and active issue for the Islamic Ummah collectively.
He said the policies of the oppressive and cruel capitalism “have driven a people out of their homes, their homeland and their ancestral roots and instead, it has installed a terrorist regime and has housed a foreign people therein.”
The following is the full text of Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his pure and immaculate household, upon his chosen companions and upon those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
Palestine is the most important issue for the Islamic Ummah
The issue of Palestine continues to be the most important and active issue for the Islamic Ummah collectively. The policies of the oppressive and cruel capitalism have driven a people out of their homes, their homeland and their ancestral roots and instead, it has installed a terrorist regime and has housed a foreign people therein.
The logic behind the establishment of the Zionist regime
Can one find a logic weaker and shakier than that of the establishment of the Zionist regime? On the basis of their claim, the Europeans oppressed the Jews during the Second World War, therefore they believe that the oppression against the Jews should be revenged by displacing a nation in West Asia and by committing a horrible massacre in that country!
This is the logic which western governments have relied on with their wholehearted and blind support for the Zionist regime, thereby disproving all their false claims about human rights and democracy. It has been 70 years now that they have been sticking with this laughable and at the same time tragic story and every now and then, they add a new chapter to it.
Fighting against the Zionist regime is a collective responsibility
Since the first day, the Zionists turned the usurped Palestine into a terrorist base. Israel is not a country, rather it is a terrorist camp against the Palestinian nation and other Muslim nations. Fighting against this despotic regime is fighting against oppression and terrorism. And this is a collective responsibility.
Weakness and discord in the Islamic Ummah prepared the ground for the usurpation of Palestine
Another noteworthy point is that although that the usurping regime was established in 1948, the ground for occupying that sensitive Islamic region had been prepared years before that. Those specific years coincided with the active interference of westerners in Islamic countries with the purpose of establishing secularism and excessive and blind nationalism and also with the goal of installing despotic governments who were infatuated with or controlled by the West.
Studying those events in Iran, Turkey and Arab countries stretching from West Asia to North Africa reveals this bitter truth that weakness and discord in the Islamic Ummah paved the way for the disastrous usurpation of Palestine, allowing the world of arrogance to deliver that blow to the Islamic Ummah.
Westerners and Easterners colluding with one another over the matter of usurping Palestine
It is instructive that at that time, the capitalism and communism camps colluded with the rich Zionists. It was the English who masterminded the plot and who persisted in it and then, Zionist capitalists executed it with their money and weapons. The Soviet Union too was one of the first governments that officially recognized the establishment of that illegitimate regime and later on dispatched a large number of Jews to that area.
The usurping regime was actually an outcome of that situation in the world of Islam on the one hand, and of a European plot, invasion and transgression, on the other.
In the present time, the balance has been tipped in favor of the world of Islam
Today, the situation in the world is not like those days. We should keep this reality within sight. Today, the balance of power has swung in favor of the world of Islam. Various political and social incidents in Europe and in the United States have laid bare the weaknesses and the deep structural, managerial and moral conflicts among westerners. The electoral events in the US and the notoriously scandalous failures of the hubristic and arrogant managers in that country, the unsuccessful one-year fight against the pandemic in the US and Europe and the embarrassing incidents that ensued, and also the recent political and social instabilities in the most important European countries are all signs of the downward movement of the western camp.
On the other hand, the growth of the Resistance forces in the most sensitive Islamic regions, the development of their defensive and offensive capabilities, their growth of self-awareness, motivation and hope in Muslim nations, the increasing tendency to follow Islamic and Quranic slogans and the growth of independence and self-reliance in nations are auspicious signs of a better future.
The necessity for Muslim countries to cooperate with one another on the pivot of Palestine and Quds
In this auspicious future, cooperation between Muslim countries should be a main and fundamental goal and this does not seem unlikely. The pivot around which this cooperation turns is the issue of Palestine–the entirety of that country–and the fate of Holy Quds. This is the same truth that guided the enlightened heart of the great Imam Khomeini (may God bestow mercy upon him) towards the announcement of International Quds Day on the last Friday of Ramadan.
Cooperation between Muslims around the pivot of Holy Quds is an absolute nightmare for the Zionists and for their American and European advocates. The failed project called “The Deal of the Century” and the effort to normalize the relations between a few weak Arab governments and the Zionist regime were desperate attempts to run away from that nightmare.
I tell you with confidence: These attempts will not get them anywhere. The downward movement of the Zionist enemy has started and it will not stop moving downward.
The decisive factors in the future: The continued activities of the Resistance in the occupied lands and Muslims’ support for the Palestinian mujahids
There are two determining factors in the future: First and foremost is the continued activities of resistance in the Palestinian lands and the strengthening of the line of jihad and martyrdom and second, global support, on the part of governments and Muslim nations throughout the world, for the Palestinian mujahids.
All of us–government officials, intellectuals, religious scholars, political parties and groups, the brave youths and people of various social backgrounds–should determine our position in this public movement and play our part.
This is what nullifies the enemy’s plots and it will be a millennial manifestation of this ayah: “Or do they intend a plot? But those who defy Allah are themselves involved in a plot” [The Holy Quran, 52: 42], and “And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most among mankind do not know” [The Holy Quran, 12: 21].
I also wish to address the Arab youth in their own language…
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Greetings be upon all liberated individuals in the Arab world, in particular Arab youth, and greetings be upon the resistant people of Palestine and Quds and the defenders in Masjid al-Aqsa.
Greetings be upon the martyrs of Resistance and the large number of the mujahids who laid down their lives on this path, in particular martyr Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, martyr Sayyid Abbas Musawi, martyr Fathi Shaqaqi, martyr Imad Moughniyah, martyr Abdul-Aziz Rantisi, martyr Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis and finally, the most prominent personality among the martyrs of Resistance, martyr Qassem Soleimani. Even after their fruitful and blessed life, with their martyrdom, each of these personalities exerted a deep impact on the Resistance.
The endeavors of Palestinians and the pure blood of the Resistance martyrs have managed to hold up this auspicious flag and to increase the internal power of Palestinian jihad by a hundred times. One day, the Palestinian youth used to defend themselves by throwing stones, but today, they respond to enemy attacks with precision missiles.
Palestine and Quds has been described in the Holy Quran as the “Holy Land”. It has been tens of years now that the most impure and malicious human beings have been occupying this pure land: they are devils who massacre honorable human beings and then they confess to it with complete shamelessness. They are racists who have been harassing, for more than 70 years, the main owners of the land by murdering, looting, imprisoning and torturing them, but, thank God, they have not been able to break their willpower.
Palestine is alive and it continues to resist and it will finally overcome the malicious enemy with God’s assistance. Holy Quds and the entire Palestine belongs to those people [the Palestinians] and they will regain its possession again: “Nor is that for Allah any great matter.” [The Holy Quran, 14:20].
All Muslim governments and nations are responsible towards Palestine, but the Palestinians themselves are the pivot of the jihad and their population reaches about 14 million people inside and outside the land. The unity and the unanimous willpower of those people will work wonders.
Today, unity is the biggest weapon for the Palestinians
The enemies of Palestinian unity are the Zionist regime, the US and some other political powers, but if unity is not shattered from inside the Palestinian society itself, the extrinsic enemies will not be able to do anything.
The pivot of this unity should be national jihad and lack of trust in the enemies. The main enemies of the Palestinians-the US, England and vicious Zionists-should not be used as a source of support for Palestinian politics.
All Palestinians–including the Palestinians in Gaza, in Quds, in the West Bank, in 1948 lands and even the ones living in refugee camps–form a single unit and they should adopt the strategy of coalescence. Every part should defend another part and when under pressure, they should utilize the tools at their disposal.
Today, hope of achieving victory is stronger than ever. Today, the balance of power has swung in favor of the Palestinians. The Zionist enemy has become weaker year after year while its army, which used to describe itself as “the army which will never be defeated”, has turned into “an army which will never taste victory” after its debacle in the 33-day war in Lebanon and its experiences in 22-day and 8-day wars. As for its political condition, it has been forced to hold four elections in the space of two years. In terms of security as well, it continuously tastes defeat. Moreover, the increasing desire among Jews to emigrate from that country has become a source of embarrassment for that overconfident regime. Its serious endeavor to normalize relations with a few Arab countries, with the assistance of the US, is another sign of the decline of that regime. Of course, this will not help that regime in any way either. Tens of years ago, it established relations with Egypt, but since then, it has become much weaker and much more vulnerable. Therefore, will the normalization of relations with a few weak and small countries be able to help that regime? Of course, those countries will not benefit from the relations either, as the Zionist regime will transgress against their properties and their land and it will promote corruption and insecurity in their countries.
Of course, these truths should not make others forget about their heavy duty. Muslim and Christian ulama should announce the act of normalization as haraam from a religious perspective and intellectuals and liberated individuals should explain to everyone the results of this treachery, which is a stab in the back of Palestine.
Contrary to the downward movement of the regime, an increase in the capabilities of the camp of Resistance is a sign of a bright future: An increase in defensive and military power, self-sufficiency in building effective weapons, the self-confidence of mujahids, the increasing awareness of youth, the extension of the Resistance circle to the entire country of Palestine and beyond, the recent uprising of youth in defending Masjid al-Aqsa and the simultaneous promotion of the Palestinian nation’s spirit of jihad and innocence among public opinion in many parts of the world.
The logic behind the Palestinian cause, which has been registered in the United Nations documents, is a progressive and attractive logic. Palestinian warriors can bring up the idea of holding a referendum with the participation of the main inhabitants of Palestine. The referendum will determine the political system of the country and the main inhabitants, including the displaced Palestinians, no matter what their ethnicity and religion are, will participate in it. That political system will bring back the displaced [Palestinians] and will determine the fate of the foreigners inhabiting there.
This demand is based on the common democracy accepted in the whole world and no one can question its progressiveness.
The Palestinian fighters should continue their legitimate and moral fight against the usurping regime until it is forced to give in to this demand.
Move forward in the Name of God and know that: “Allah will certainly aid those who aid His cause” [The Holy Quran, 22: 40].
Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy
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يتوقف المرء ملياً في كلّ مرة يطلّ فيها الأمين العام لحزب الله السيّد حسن نصر الله، لتناول حدث ما في مناسبة من المناسبات. قد يختلف البعض مع السيّد في النظرة للأمور، وطرق العلاج للمسائل الشائكة التي يشهدها البلد أو المنطقة أو العالم، فهذا رأيه، إلا أنه لا يمكن لأيّ عاقل يتصف بالقليل من الحكمة والرصانة بالموضوعية والعقلانية، وببعد النظر، وهو يتابع السيّد عن قرب إلا أن يتوقف أمام حقائق لا يمكن تجاهلها، أو التحامل عليها نتيجة أحقاد البعض من هنا، أو كراهية البعض الآخر من هناك، أو بسبب مصالح فردية ومنافع ومكتسبات وامتيازات لفئة أو أفراد، أو جماعات استحكمت عقولها وتفكيرها وسلوكها الأهواء الطائفية، والنزعات الأصولية والمذهبية، والمناطقية المتطرفة.
تستمع الى السيّد بعقلك وروحك المتحرّر، فتجد فيه المسؤول الرفيع، والمقاوم الشهم، والزاهد المؤمن، ورجل الدولة الرفيع، والصادق الشريف، في زمن كثر فيه المنافقون والدجّالون، والمشعوذون، والمنحرفون، والمأجورون، والمرتمون في أحضان الخيانة والعمالة، والملوِّثون أياديهم بالمال الحرام ودماء المسحوقين. هو السيّد يا سادة، والد الشهيد، ورفيق الشهداء وحاضن الأحرار، هو التقي النقي، الذي يضع النقاط على الحروف بعقل متميّز ووجدان عالٍ وضمير حيّ قلّ نظيره، لا يبغي من ورائه مغنماً أو مكسباً، أو ربحاً، أو جاهاً أو منصباً، أو مالاً، أو زعامة كما يفعل تجار السياسة وبائعو الأوطان، ومذلّو الشعوب.
هو السيّد المؤمن بحق، والمدافع بحق، والمقاوم بحق، والرافض للظلم والفساد بحق، والناقم على حيتان الطبقة الفاجرة بحق، والمناهض بكلّ قوة للصوص المال وناهبي ثروات الشعب، والمطالِب بملاحقتهم ومحاكمتهم بحق.
لماذا يختزن البعض هذا الحقد الدفين وهذه الكراهية الشديدة، وهذا التعصّب الأعمى تجاه السيّد! ألأنكم أدمنتم على الفساد، أم لأنكم تكرهون الله وتكرهون الوطن وتكرهون أنفسكم، وتكرهون بناء الدولة القادرة المقتدرة، العادلة المقاومة لكلّ ظلم وعدوان وإرهاب! لماذا يكره البعض وجود مقاومة في بلد مهدّد دائماً من قوى الهيمنة والاحتلال! لماذا يشذّ البعض عن التمسك بكرامة وطنه وشعبه أسوة بالشعوب التي تحافظ على كرامتها ومقاومتها وعزّتها! هل عداء البعض من الطغمة السياسية الفاسدة للسيد، تأتي نتيجة فضحه لهم ومطالبته لهم بالإصلاح، وكشف عوراتهم السياسة والأخلاقية، وسلوكهم الإداري والوظيفي والمهني، وهذا ما يزعجهم، ويزعج حلفاءهم من الفاسدين الناهبين والسارقين للمال العام والخاص! لماذا يزعجكم ويضيق صدركم بمنطق السيّد وهو يطرح أمامكم كلّ الحلول العملية الواقعية، العادلة، وأنتم ترفضونها، لكونها تتعارض كلياً مع صفقاتكم، وأهدافكم، ونهجكم المقيت في السياسة والإدارة والحكم؟ هل سمعتم السيّد يدافع يوماً عن اللصوص الفاسدين تجار الهيكل! هل سمعتم مرة السيّد، يشيد بطائفة دون أخرى، او يسيء إلى فئة ويتبنّى أخرى! هل قال كلمته مرة، وخرجت عن الأصول واللياقات، والأخلاق، والتقاليد، والأعراف، والشعور الأخويّ والحسّ الوطني، والايمان الحقيقي بالله والشعب وكلّ الأحرار! هل وجدتم السيّد يوماً يستفزكم وهو يسكن قصراً، ويعيش ترف الدنيا وغرورها، كما يفعل الآخرون!
نعم السيّد بنظركم، وببصيرتكم العمياء مذنب! ألأنه حرّر الأرض من المحتلّ «الإسرائيلي»، وحرّر مناطق لبنانية من قوى الإرهاب الداعشيّة، وحافظ على وجود وكرامة كلّ الطوائف فيها، أم لأنه قدّم عشرات الشهداء من أجل حماية لبنان وشعبه ودرء الخطر عنه. نعم! السيّد مذنب
يا عمي البصيرة لأنه حافظ على أرض وطنكم وكرامة بلدكم وعزة شعبكم، ولم يلتفت إلى مصالحه الشخصية كما فعلتم، وتفعلون، ولم يغط عيوبكم وفجوركم ونهبكم كما تبتغون وتريدون !
السيّد مذنب، لأنه لم يركع لمحتلّ، ولم يستجدِ قوى التسلط والاستبداد، ولم يخضع لقراصنة العالم، ولم يقبل بالمساومة على حقوق شعبه وأمته، ولا بالابتزاز الرخيص، والعمالة المدفوعة الأجر.
فقليلاً من المنطق والحياء، والصدقية يا تجار الأوطان، وأنتم تتعاطون مع هامات مؤمنة تظلّ تسطع على جبين الوطن، وتبقى بينكم الأشرف والأصدق والأتقى والأعلم، والأنزه، والأنظف…
فإنْ كنتم تدمنون على المعارضة من أجل المعارضة، فعارضوا، وهذا شأنكم. وهي مسؤوليتكم أمام الشعب وأمام الديان، لكن عارضوا بشرف، ولا بحقد مسبق، ومنطق أعوج، بعيداً جداً، عن الإباء والكرامة! عارضوا لكن لا تعارضوا رهبة أو رغبة أو عبودية، وما أكثر العبيد وتجار الأوطان في زمن فقد فيه العملاء والخونة كلّ القيم ومقومات الأخلاق، والتحقوا بقطار الخنوع والذلّ والتبعية.
إنه السيّد، يا سادة، في زمن كثر فيه المنافقون، وقلّ فيه الرجال. عارضوا متى شئتم عارضوا، لكن لا تتحاملوا ولا تظلموا، ولا تحملوا سيوفكم المسمومة يميناً وشمالاً، فأنتم لستم أهلاً لها، وكونوا من الرجال ولا من أشباه الرجال، فبعدها لكلّ حادث حديث…
لم يُنجِب المشرق شخصيّة عبقريّة ونضاليّة بمكانة أنطون سعاده، فقد عرف الشرق أبطالاً خاضوا معارك أسطوريّة وحققوا انتصارات تاريخيّة، أو سقطوا في ملاحم استشهادية، كما عرف الشرق قادة سياسيين نقلوا واقع كياناته ودوله من مراحل إلى مراحل، وكتبوا سيَرَهم بأحرف من نور، وعرف الشرق قادة حركات مقاومة أنجزوا ما عجزت الجيوش عن إنجازه، وعرف الشرق مفكّرين وكتّاب وفلاسفة ألمعيّين تركوا بصماتهم في الفكر الإنساني، لكن هذا الشرق لم يعرف شخصاً جمع كل ذلك في سيرة حياته القصيرة بمثل ما جسّدها أنطون سعاده.
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قُدّمت عقائد ومشاريع فكرية سياسية لشعوب المنطقة، عالج بعضُها قضية التحرر من الاستعمار كأولويّة وتفوّق في رسم معاملها، وعالج بعضُها قضية الوحدة وأبدع، وعالج بعضُها قضية العدالة الاجتماعية وتفوّق، وعالج بعضُها قضية الأمراض الاجتماعية وشكل الدولة القادرة على توحيد النسيج الوطني، فوقع بعضُها في العداء مع الدّين، ووقع بعضُها الآخر في محاولة توفيق هشّة بين مفهوم الدين ومفهوم الدولة، لكن التجربة الحية لكل هذه العقائد قالت باستحالة بلوغ مرتبة متقدّمة من الإنجاز في أيّ من هذه العناوين، رغم الإنجاز الأولي المحقق، ما لم يلاقيه تناسب في الإنجاز في العناوين الأخرى، فكانت عقيدة سعاده وحدَها التي نجحت بتقديم الأجوبة المتكاملة على الأولويّات المتزامنة والمتلازمة، وبصورة تفادت خلالها الوقوع في ثنائيّات قاتلة، فتجاوزت الفِخاخ التي وقع فيها الآخرون، فهي متصالحة مع الدين وليست دينيّة، وهي مدنيّة وليست إلحاديّة، وهي نوع من اشتراكيّة لا تلغي المبادرة الفردية، ونوع من رأسمالية لا تلغي دور الدولة، ووحدويّة بحدود المدى الجغرافيّ الأضيق، وتحررية الى المدى الأبعد الذي يمثله اليقين بأمة عظيمة لا تعاني عقدة النقص تجاه الغير شرقاً وغرباً، لكنها تنطلق في التحرّر من فلسطين والصدام الوجوديّ مع كيان الاستيطان الغاصب.
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خلال عقود الاحتلال التي عاشها لبنان، تعرّف اللبنانيون على فكر سعاده حزباً مقاوماً، وخلال عقد المواجهة التي خاضها السوريّون مع الإرهاب عرفوا عقيدة سعاده منظومة وحدة اجتماعيّة وسلم اجتماعي، ومقاومين يستشهدون الى جانب الجيش السوري دفاعاً عن وحدة وسيادة سورية، وفي ذروة الأزمات المحيطة بدول المنطقة اقتصادياً وأمنياً، قدّمت عقيدة سعاده مشروع وحدة الحياة بين كيانات المشرق، وما عُرف بالتشبيك الذي دعا إليه مفكّرون كثيرون ليس إلا بعضاً مما قدّمه سعاده.
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عرف سعاده أهميّة الجماعة المنظّمة، وعرف أهمّية دم الشهادة، فتلازما مع مسيرته قائداً حزبياً وشهيداً لقضيته وحزبه، وعرف الأخطبوط الداخليّ والخارجيّ الممسك بالسيطرة على بلاد المشرق مبكراً أن سعاده وفكره وحزبه خطر داهم، فتضامنوا وتفاهموا على التخلّص منه بصورة دراميّة لا تزال بصماتها توقظ ضمائر الأحرار، ورغم مضي عقود على ما كتبه سعاده في كل ميدان سيكتشف مَنْ يقرأه ومَن يُعيد قراءته، أنه كتب لهذه الأيام، وأن أضعف الإيمان هو العرفان، وللعرفان موجبات، أولها دعوة الجيل الشاب للتعرّف على مفكّر من لحمه ودمه يشكل عبقريّة استثنائيّة وشخصيّة أسطوريّة، يباهي بها شعوب الأرض، ومن العرفان أن ينهض محبّو سعاده وتلامذته بما يليق بالصورة التي يستحقّها لإعادة تقديمه مخلّصاً يحمل مشروعاً يستطيع أن ينهض بلبنان وسورية وكيانات المشرق نحو التقدّم، وفكر سعاده نسخة علمانيّة غير مستوردة لا تتعارض مع الإسلام والمسيحيّة، ونسخة اقتصادية اجتماعية صُنعت في بلادنا تقدّم حلولاً جذرية لمشكلاتنا، ومشروع مقاومة تتّسع لكل مقاوم بوصلته فلسطين، ومشروع وحدة تتّسع مع أتباع عقيدته، للقوميين العرب والإسلاميين والأمميين، فوحدة بلاد الشام توفر لكل هؤلاء قلعة حرّة تتسع لمشاريعهم التحرّرية والوحدويّة والإنسانيّة.
From the Village of Jibshit came out a man with a firm courageous position, a man that devoted his life for the sake of Jihad, Resistance, Land, Nation, and Islam. He was a man that held the meanings of moral and support and used them to revive people, and a man that always uttered the words of bravery, audacity and perseverance.
That man was assassinated by the filthy hands of the enemy, yet his precious blood did not go in vein. His Martyrdom was a memorable victory, for he was a flame glowing in the path of the Islamic Resistance, and he was the brightest color of dignity and honor.
He is the great leader Sheikh Ragheb Harb, the most eloquent of words, and the most luminous of positions.
In loving memory of his Martyrdom, Moqawama.org had a special interview with his son Ragheb Harb Junior, who was born 6 months after Sheikh Ragheb’s Martyrdom.
Speaking of Sheikh Ragheb Harb’s character, Ragheb Jr. said his father was a leader; he held the main characteristics of a leader that made him unique in society. “My Father dealt with people as if they were his own family, he was a leader and a loving father to everyone.” he said.
He noted that his father was known for his fidelity for Islam, adding a quote from his father, “There is no better tomorrow without Islam.”
Ragheb continued that his father sacrificed his own self, family, money, time and efforts for the sake of Islam. He tried his best to help people and raise them to be part of a high, educated, knowledgeable Islamic society. “I’m sure my father’s ultimate joy was when he dedicated his blood for the sake of his goal, and that was the noblest thing ever”, Ragheb added.
Being a leader in Hizbullah makes it hard to live a normal life, meaning that at many times, the leader may have to be away for a while. Ragheb Jr. considered he was privileged, for his father’s path despite the sacrifices, was an honor.
He said there is a huge difference between a person sitting at home and caring less about his responsibilities and a person away from home and holding not only his responsibilities but that of a whole Islamic nation. “Even though he was away, my family knew he had a sacred aspiration, and so they were all patient for the sake of his goal”, Ragheb said. “My father hardly came home, especially during the “Israeli” occupation, but mother took his place, and filled in the gaps. She was his Jihad companion.” he added.
As for Ragheb’s personal relationship with his father, he said that even though he didn’t have the chance to meet him in person, he learned from his father through the stories told by his siblings. “While he was at home, father used to play with my siblings, tell them jokes, and he was always concerned about their academic results. Even though he had a lot to do outside yet these things never controlled his thoughts at home. He used to preach in a funny way.” Ragheb added that his father’s basic request was for them to sustain their religion.
Ragheb was influenced by his father psychologically and personally, he said that with no doubt he felt that his father was a blessing sent from God, and that he was affected by his superb and decent characteristics. “His imprints and breath where left everywhere”, he added.
Receiving Sheikh Ragheb’s martyrdom was a shock to the family. Ragheb Jr. said that his father had always sought after martyrdom, but his assassination was a shock to the family. “It was a Friday night, father came back home from the Mosque and sat down for awhile, and afterwards he said he was going to see the neighbors. After a couple of hours, my parents heard people echoing “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar”. They didn’t know what was going on, not until they heard someone saying: “Sheikh Ragheb was killed”, It was the hardest news ever, for it wasn’t familiar yet.” he said.
Sheikh Ragheb had a great influence on Ragheb Jr.’s life. He said: “Father was a source of pride and dignity; he taught me the true meaning of anticipation and perseverance”. He added that his father’s path is with no doubt the right path leading to happiness in this life and the afterlife.”
Speaking of the imprints of the Martyrs in our lives, Ragheb said that the Martyrs are following the path of Imam Hussein (pbuh), the path of Imam Ali (pbuh), the path of Imam Hassan (pbuh) and Ashura’a. Islam is immortal and continues to grow due to their valuable blood.
Ragheb continued:” All our accomplishments are due to what the blood of the Martyrs reaped throughout history. Our time isn’t any different than the previous times, for the blood of the precious Martyrs, are still pouring on Islam. It is the light of God on earth and God’s light is sealed.” Ragheb said that the imprints of the martyrs are countless; we’ll get to know their value as we grow older.
Ragheb ended by sending a message to his father saying: “Oh Father if you had the chance to ask about this world, you’d ask about Islam, the resistance, the Mujahideen, the oppressed, the land and your sons. As for Islam it is the Light that will never be turned off. As for the resistance, it is the beacon that was fueled by your blood and the blood of all the Martyrs, and its fire will remain so that it burns the bigotry of the enemy.
As for the Mujahideen, they have never changed their determination and they never will, they will continue this path as it was drawn.
As for the tyrannized; they will remain our first priority until God gives permission for their savior to appear. As for the land it will remain precious and dear with the Jihad, strong with our fists, green with our pouring blood. As for us your children, if God wants, we’ll keep on following your dear path under the banner of Imam Khamenai and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah until we reach what you reached.”
In tribute to martyr leader Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, a song subtitled by al-Ahed News, displaying Hajj Imad Mughniyeh driving a bus with passengers as resistance fighters who are heading towards occupied al-Quds.
It was a dream from the book of the resistance. Almost like a passerby who left behind his basic will for future generations to follow and preserve. The martyred Secretary General of Hizbullah, Sayyed Abbas al-Musawi, stood tall, leaving behind glory, pride, and dignity for history to remember.
He was one of the lights among resistance fighters and fire to its enemies. He consciously acknowledged his responsibilities toward his faith, worldly affairs and country. Palestine is a chapter from Sayyed’s story. But an attempt to count all the luminous points of Sayyed’s life would be a never-ending affair.
His cousin and the brother of his wife, Sayyed Hani al-Musawi, recalls some of these points during an interview with the Al Ahed website.
He was his childhood friend. The friendship got stronger due to the bond of intermarriage. With much nostalgia, Sayyed Hani speaks about the [former] Secretary-General.
“Many things have contributed to making him a great leader. He was bold in his stances, brave in expressing his opinion, and in addition to all that he was adamant in reaching his goals as well as attached to the ultimate goal; Palestine,” said Sayyed Hani.
The loving friend talked about Sayyed’s attachment to “martyr Sayyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, who loved and appreciated the young man after finding him conscious and thirsty to learn about religion and its provisions, and thirsty for knowledge.”
“After graduating from a Hawza (a religious seminary) in Tyre, Sayyed Abbas moved to Iraq to continue his studies under Sayyed Sadr in accordance with the latter’s wishes. Sayyed Sadr saw in Sayyed Abbas a distinctive character. So he treated him in a special way, getting closer, and opening up all the doors of his knowledge,” Sayyed Hani adds.
He continues by touching on Sayyed Abbas’s visits to Lebanon, throughout that period.
“He used to come on religious occasions like the month of Muharram and Ramadan in order to preach. Back then, knowledge or religious sciences were not widespread among the people. The son of the Bekaa region, who lived through its hardships, had a special place among the people. He was their good example. He contributed to educating the ‘private groups’ that took his place preaching during his absence,” Sayyed Hani explains.
“Sayyed Abbas would return home from time to time to take in the facial features of the people he loved, and desired this to be part of his future, which would be filled with sacrifice and giving and grow to love life,” he continues.
According to Sayyed Hani, his dear friend “was diligent in his work. He did not give in to fatigue easily. As for his car, it was his second home in which he used to sleep during his journeys from the south to the Bekaa Valley or the north or Syria. He was always on the move accompanied by the motto of giving. He devoted his youth for the Palestinian cause. With every minute of his life, he pursued it and raised its banner among the public.”
Sayyed Hani does not forget the leader’s companion on this path; a lady that Sayyed Hani was more closely attached to than his own brothers.
She was the “family darling, good hearted, and the most beautiful girl in form and substance.
And because men of purity are for women of purity, God brought together Siham al- Musawi and Sayyed Abbas. The engagement took place in the presence of a number of scholars. Since that time, Sayyed was never alone in his travels. His cousin, Siham al- Musawi, accompanied him to Iraq. She became Mrs. Um Yasser after their wedding, and she was fourteen years old.”
According to Um Yasser’s brother, the relationship between both martyrs was pure. “I’ve never seen them happier,” Sayyed Hani recalls. He remembers the sacrifices and dedication of his sister with her husband, who was always away. “She used to take his place and assume full responsibility. She was content. He never heard her complain about the harsh conditions or her husband’s risky work. Instead she endowed her life to his jihad to get nearer to God.”
To talk about Um Yasser is a never-ending affair. She was the one that “proved her awareness and competence while in the company of Sayyed. She was the watchful eye and the hand that arranged his affairs. Sayyed reciprocated the respect and appreciated her patience. He was supportive of her, which enabled Um Yasser – despite all the responsibilities – to build the Sayyeda Zahra (AS) Hawza for women as well as the Hawza of Imam Al Montathar for men which Sayyed Abbas al- Musawi founded when he was forced to return from Iraq.”
Both Hawzas [religious schools] had a significant impact on the revival of the pillars of religion in the Bekaa Valley. The city of Baalbek saw the rise of religion and jihad. Which later expanded into several other areas of Lebanon.
“One day I expressed my concern to Sayyed Abbas al-Musawi over the people’s growing despair and the deteriorating situation. Despite my pessimism, he responded with reassuring words and confidence in God saying, ‘the turban and martyrdom will be victorious'” Sayyed Hani added, “He felt that his martyrdom would be an awakening point for the masses. In fact, Sayyed al- Musawi’s martyrdom formed a revolt against injustice.”
The eye of the enemy was watching the [former] Secretary-General of Hizbullah.
“We used to joke with him saying, ‘if you sold yourself to God, do not subject your companions to danger. He would always answer us that he was doing what he must and leaves the rest to God Almighty,” Sayyed Hani said.
The [former] Secretary-General, who was elected to his post in May 1991, was sensitive towards the oppressed and the resistance fighters. After his election, he stressed that this choice “is an obligation and not an honor.”
He was always worried that the position would take him away from feeling the worries of the resistance fighters. Soon Sayyed’s wish and constant intuition that Um Yasser would be his companion in achieving his dream came true. That dream, which he repeated with his melodious voice as he raised his hands to the sky, “I ask you to bless me with a pure martyrdom, I chose for myself in expiation for my sin; a unique martyrdom where my body disintegrates.”
Speech of Hezbollah’s Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the first martyrdom anniversary of the two great leaders, Hajj Qassem Soleimani and Hajj Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon our Master and Prophet, the Seal of Prophets, Abi al-Qassem Muhammad Bin Abdullah and his good and pure household and his good and chosen companions and all the prophets and messengers.
Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you all.
Before I delve into the occasion of the first annual anniversary of the martyrdom of the two dear leaders, Hajj Qassem Soleimani and Hajj Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis [Hajj Jamal Jaafar], and their martyred comrades, I would like to take a few minutes to discuss a few other events.
Firstly, the past few days marked the annual anniversary of the martyrdom of the great and truthful, Lady of the Women of the World, a piece of the Messenger of Allah [may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family], the wife of God’s guardian, and the Mother of Imams [peace be upon them] Sayyeda Fatima al-Zahraa, the daughter of the Messenger of God. Muslims are unanimous in their veneration, reverence, appreciation, and love for her as well as for her dignity and greatness. This is an occasion to offer condolences to her grandson, Sahib Al-‘asr Wa Al-zaman and all Muslims in the world.
Secondly, in the past few days, we lost a great scholar, a jurist, and a thinker in the fullest sense of the word. This comes at a time when the number of thinkers is declining. He was a great Islamic thinker, a prominent connoisseur, one of Allah’s righteous friends, an educator and a teacher, a loyal wise man, and a steadfast mujahid on the path of truth and in supporting the causes of the nation in this era. I’m talking about His Eminence, the Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Misbah Al-Yazdi [may God Almighty be pleased with him].
Also on this occasion, we extend our condolences to His Eminence, Imam Khamenei, our honorable religious authorities and Hawzas, and our Islamic nation, especially for members of his honorable and generous family, as well as all his students and loved ones. I ask God Almighty to have mercy on him and grant him a high rank.
In Lebanon, due to the coronavirus scourge, we lost a dear brother from the early generation. He was among the first groups and first founding leaders of Hezbollah’s march, brother Sayyed Abu Ayman Al-Mousawi [Sayyed Muhammad Abbas Al-Mousawi], may God have mercy on him. He was the companion of our martyr and leader, Sayyed Abbas Al-Mousawi [may God Almighty be pleased with him]. He among the forerunners of the Mujahideen believers working and sacrificing in the Beqaa region. He was among the founders of the Imam al-Mahdi [PBUH] Scouts Association in Lebanon. He was its first president or its first general commissioner. I also offer condolences to all his brothers and sisters and companions on this path, especially his honorable and noble family members. I ask God to have mercy on him and grant him a high rank.
We come to our occasion. One year ago, in the early hours of the morning much like this one, around the same time in January, this great and tragic incident took place. It was recorded in history and will remain immortal – its magnitude, greatness, the grievances, the blood that was shed, its repercussions, its effects, and its consequences for the entire region.
Today, I would like to talk about several points related to this occasion and the events that occurred between then and the first anniversary.
The first point is loyalty to the martyred leaders and those who were martyred with them. Of course, when we talk about the martyrs, we must once again at the beginning extend our condolences and congratulate the families of martyr commander Qassem Soleimani and the Iranian martyrs who were martyred with him:
Martyr Hussein Jaafari Nia, who for 20 years was one of our brothers, a friend, a beloved person, and a shadow to Hajj Qassem.
Martyr brother Shahroud Mozaffari Nia
Martyr brother Hadi Tarmi
Martyr brother Wahid Zamanian
I also offer condolences and congratulate the family of martyr commander Hajj Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Hajj Jamal Jaafar, and the Iraqi martyrs who were with him:
Martyr Muhammad Reda Al-Jabri
Martyr Muhammad al-Shaibani
Martyr Hassan Abdel-Hadi
Martyr Ali Haidar
May God Almighty be pleased with them all.
Loyalty to the martyred leaders.
Loyalty, as we all know, is a human and innate value because man is born with it. It is a moral value that does not need to be inferred. It is a religious value. This is God’s religion.
When a loyal person practices loyalty, it benefits him in this world and the hereafter. Those who you are loyal to may not need your loyalty. The martyrs, who have departed to their great world beside God Almighty, do not need our loyalty. But being loyal to our great people and martyrs, to those who made sacrifices in our nation, to our defenders, to those who were sincere in bearing our responsibility and our causes will benefit us and will benefit our people, our children, and grandchildren in this world and in the hereafter.
Today, loyalty is a duty to these two great leaders, particularly to commander Hajj Qassem Soleimani, for being in many arenas and for what they represent. How do we translate this loyalty?
First, we must not to negate their services and give them credit.
Second, we must acknowledge their services and give them credit. This means we should not be silent because it is possible that a person might not refute their services but does not acknowledge them and remains silent! Loyalty is to acknowledge their services and give them credit.
Third, we must remind them to the people, to the world, to our peoples, to our future generations, and to history. We must point out their sacrifices and their achievements. Being loyal means honoring these martyrs and respecting them, in various forms of honor and respect.
Another form of loyalty is to thank them publicly for what they offered and sacrificed. We must tell them thank you. We must thank Hajj Qassem Soleimani, the martyr commander. We must thank Hajj Abu Mahdi a-Muhandis. We must thank the martyrs. We must thank everyone who represents. We must thank these martyr leaders for the sacrifices they made for our peoples, countries, region, and causes. This gratitude is a duty. Look, God Almighty, who is in no need of us, our worship, and our thanksgiving, asks us to thank Him. He tells us that {If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].} But if you deny, it’s a different matter.
Being thankful, being thankful for the blessings and for the services has very great effects even in this world. It is true that whoever stands by you is doing his duty. But when you thank him and when he finds you to be loyal to him, sincere with him, and acknowledging his services, his enthusiasm, courage, seriousness, and drive to help you, to support you, to defend you, and to stand beside you will be greater. This is human nature.
Thus, we must have this type of loyalty. Of course, there are other requirements for loyalty that I will not talk about now because there are people who cannot bear them.
From the first hour of this grave historical event, the martyrdom of these great figures, until today, the first annual anniversary, we have witnessed great and important manifestations of loyalty. For example, since the very first hours, there was great and massive public interaction in the Islamic Republic of Iran with the incident. People rushed to the squares in many governorates and cities, especially in the provincial centers. Also, the same took place when the bodies of the martyrs were brought and during the funeral procession. It was a historic funeral procession. A person can say it was the greatest funeral procession in human history. And if he wanted to be on the safe side, he’d say perhaps the greatest. You can examine this if you want.
This is an expression of loyalty. Since day one, Hajj Qassem was being mentioned by the Iranians – young and old, in all areas and provinces, the state, the regime, the officials, of course His Eminence the Leader, the Iranian people, the scholars, the religious authorities.
There were very diverse and various forms of honoring him and showing respect and appreciation, from that time until today. The Islamic Republic and in the words of His Eminence Imam Khamenei declared Hajj Qassem Soleimani a national hero in Iran. This was an official announcement. In Iran, a country with an ancient and prolonged civilization, the title of a national hero means a lot. Some Arab countries might consider it a slogan but not in Iran no. It has a different meaning.
In any case, what we have seen so far is an elevated expression of loyalty, love, affection, gratitude, remembrance, and recognition of merit. During all the interviews in which Iranians were asked, they would say that we do this to recognize what Hajj Qassem Soleimani offered to the Islamic Republic of Iran. That’s it.
Of course, this is a lesson for all of us on how to deal with our martyrs and our martyred leaders, how to honor them, how to respect them, how to praise them, how to glorify them, how to give them credit, and how not to be divided over them.
We have also witnessed this matter in Iraq, where this pure blood was shed and this heinous crime was committed, in Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Bahrain, Pakistan, India, Turkey, in many Islamic countries, in many non-Muslim countries, in Venezuela, and in other capital cities in the world.
The main topic of my talk in this section is Lebanon. We have to remember, recognize, thank, and appreciate those who stood with us since the first day of the “Israeli” invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Here, I will respond to some of the atmospheres and climates in Lebanon, and it is useful to mention them. We all remember that stage. “Israel” and the “Israeli” occupation army invaded Lebanese territory. There was a threat to occupy all Lebanese lands and target Damascus. Iran was preoccupied with a war imposed on it by Saddam Hussein’s regime and all the tyrants of the world and the region baking him.
Nevertheless, Imam Khomeini did not leave Lebanon or Syria. If we are to talk about interests, Iran’s interest was for its leaders, soldiers, and weapons to remain on the front to defend it. It was isolated and besieged by the whole world, yet it did not leave Lebanon or Syria.
Imam Khomeini sent a very high-ranking delegation of military commanders from the Guards Corps and the army to Damascus. They met with Syrian officials. After that, he also sent forces. However, it later became clear that “Israeli” advances stopped at the established borders, i.e. the western Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, and the areas it controlled in 1982. The rest of Lebanon was not threatened.
The conventional warfare stopped. Syria was not the subject of an invasion. So, the next stage was a stage of resistance. Some Iranian forces, specifically belonging to the Guards Corps, stayed behind to help the Lebanese, train and provide them with support to resist the occupation. Since 1982, Iran and Syria were the most important supporter of the resistance in Lebanon.
So when I’m asking the Lebanese people and when we’re talking about loyalty, being grateful, and giving credit to others, I am asking them who has been helping Lebanon liberate its lands since 1982. You tell me certain Arab state provided financial aid and helped rebuild. In recent years, they also provided huge sums of money to some Lebanese, not for Lebanon but for these Lebanese to fight the resistance, conspire against it, and besiege it. This is another research. Who stood by the Lebanese people, protected them, and defended them via diplomacy, politics, in the media, in international forums? Who gave them weapons and capabilities, set up training camps for them, trained them, and financed them until the liberation of the 2000 was achieved? It is very natural for those who were saddened, bothered, and hurt by the 2000 liberation not too feel gratitude. After 2000 and until today, the resistance, within the golden equation, is the one protecting Lebanon against the “Israeli” enemy. The resistance is the one that protects Lebanon. It is the one helping Lebanon to preserve its rights and sovereignty. We must admit this.
Allow me here to say a couple of words since it comes in this context. Yesterday, one of the dear brothers in Iran, Brother Brigadier General Hajj Zadeh, read a statement. The Lebanese media took the statement and distorted it. This is because there are people in Lebanon whose political presence is based on forgery and distortion.
The headline reads: Iranian Revolutionary Guards: Lebanon and Gaza’s missiles are support from us and are our first line in confronting “Israel”.
As for the actual news which was written in Arabic – we have not reached the text in Farsi yet – it reads: All the missile capabilities that Gaza and Lebanon possess are supported provided by Iran, and they are the first line in confronting “Israel”.
Nowhere does it say our first line in confronting “Israel”. There was no mention of Iran’s first line of defense in confronting “Israel”. Iran gave missiles to Gaza and Lebanon to make it possible for the people of Gaza and Lebanon to defend themselves.
But you are a group of weak people who distort news without making sure first and adding to the words of any Iranian official just for the sake of a media scoop.
And one of the graces of God is {perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you.} There are people who have been absent for a long time. We haven’t heard from or made any statements. In the two days, they came out to respond to the aforementioned statement.
In the same statement, [Hajj Zadeh] says that we support and stand by all the people who ae confronting the occupation. This is an order from the Supreme Leader. What is wrong about this talk?
Yes, we also say that the Islamic Republic is the one that supports us with weapons and missiles. We also say that we are a front, and Gaza is a front. Gaza has been a front since 1948. Lebanon has been a front since 1948. But since 1948, Lebanon has been a front that was being killed and insulted. Its sovereignty was being violated. Gendarmes were arrested from their outposts in border villages. Massacres were committed in border villages. Lebanon’s airspace as well as territory and waters were violated. But today, it is a different front.
And I tell these people, if Lebanon is strong today and if there is anyone in the world asking about Lebanon or sees Lebanon on the map, or if anyone in America and Europe are asking about Lebanon, it is thanks to this resistance and these missiles. Full stop.
We all know – God willing, I will talk about this issue at a later time –what the value of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon is to the global and regional countries. I also want to tell them that if there was hope for Lebanon to have some money, it would be from the oil and gas. And if someone gave Lebanon the opportunity to extract gas and oil, especially from the rich blocs in the south, it is thanks to the resistance, its missiles, and its weapons – missiles that Iran and Syria gave to the resistance.
Therefore, I would also like to add and say that all Iranian support for the resistance in Lebanon is unconditional. All the battles that the resistance fought in Lebanon from 1982 until today were for the sake of liberating Lebanon and the Lebanese prisoners and defending Lebanon’s land, waters, and sovereignty. It will remain like so. I can also add that perhaps one of the most important and most independent resistance in the history of mankind in terms of its decisions is this resistance that exists today in Lebanon. So, do not tire yourselves a lot. This will suffice for you.
In any case, when we come to loyalty, it is our duty in Lebanon. That is why it is very natural that we mark this occasion and celebrate it, name some of our streets, squares, natural reserves, and some institutions after Hajj Qassem Soleimani or Hajj Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Some people believe that we are overdoing it. In the past when we wanted to name a street after Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine, or Sayyed Abbas al-Mousawi, some people got sensitive about the topic. Why?
Any people who respect themselves, have a civilization, have a culture, and have values deal with their martyrs this way. This is how they deal with people who served them, who were on their side, and supported them. This is also a form of loyalty – from a moral standpoint, I enter into the political topic. Being loyal is also not equating a friend to an enemy, or at the very least, those who left us behind and abandoned us – that is if we do not want to refer to them as enemies. In other words, there are three types of people. There is the enemy, a conspirator and a partner in shedding our blood, occupying our lands, and violating our sanctities. The second type is not the enemy, but they might leave you behind, abandon you, and not offer a helping hand or even a word. Then, there is the third type. These people help you, support you, stand by your side, defend you, put themselves in harm’s way, and offer martyrs. We must not treat these three types of people equally. Neither reason nor morals nor religion accept that, right? Neither human instinct nor logic accept this as well.
We in Lebanon cannot equate between those who supported us with their position, money, and weapons; were martyred with us; lived the hardship with us; helped us liberate our land and free our captives; and made us into a deterrent force in the face of the enemy and those who conspired against Lebanon in 1982 – all these were revealed in documents – supported the “Israeli” enemy during all the years of the occupation, did not provide any assistance to Lebanon, and urged the “Israelis” to continue the July war until the resistance is crushed, even though “Israel” was exhausted by the war and wanted to stop it.
We cannot consider those who were happy for our victory in the July war equal to those who were saddened by our victory. Today, too, we cannot consider those who stand by Lebanon and the strength of Lebanon to regain its oil and gas, protect its land and sky, and face any future dangers or threats equal to those who conspire against Lebanon, besiege it, and prevent it from getting aid.
Likewise in Palestine. The Palestinian resistance factions and the Palestinian people cannot consider those who are providing them with money, weapons, expertise, technology, and training and those who are standing with them in the media, politically, publicly, and diplomatically at every level and bearing the consequences of this position equal to those who are conspiring with the Americans and the “Israelis” against Palestine, its people, and its sanctities as well as the Palestinian refugees in the world, preventing aid from reaching the Palestinian people, besieging and arresting people who are collect aid or donating money to the Palestinian people, let alone those giving them weapons. It is natural that we find loyalty from the Palestinian resistance factions and the Palestinian people towards Hajj Qassem and the Islamic Republic in Iran.
Syria cannot equate between those who were partners, supporters, and financiers of the global war against it, aimed at crushing, destroying, and dividing it and allowing the takfiris to govern it and those who stood by Syria, supported it with money and weapons, men and martyrs, and spent their youth in its squares and fields, such as Hajj Qassem Soleimani and his brothers.
The Iraqis cannot consider those who occupied their lands, destroyed Iraq, committed grave massacres, caused all these disasters, supported all the takfiri groups, sent thousands of suicide bombers and thousands of car bombs to Iraq, provided money and weapons to Takfiri terrorist organizations for many years equal to those who sacrificed their selves, soul, brothers, money, and weapons to stand by the Iraqis, defend them, help them liberate their land from the occupation, help them get rid of Daesh and the Takfiri groups that were destroying and burning Iraq, looting, killing, and committing massacres and sedition. They cannot equate between them.
This is also the case when we talk about Afghanistan, Yemen, and other countries. Hence, being loyal also requires that we not equate between these types of people, to know our friends from our enemies from our opponents, and to distinguish between who is just and who is negligent. Loyalty is also one of the conditions of victory. God Almighty threatened to take away blessings from those who disbelieve in them. And for those who are grateful, their blessings will be increased. God will increase their blessings. Loyalty is one of the conditions for victory. It is one of the conditions for perseverance, survival, and steadfastness.
Thus, this is the first topic. Still in this topic, I can say today: Yes, our axis, our nation, our peoples, the resistance movements, their parties, the states, and everyone concerned in this battle regionally expressed their sincerity, loyalty, position, gratitude, recognition, glorification, honor and appreciation to these two great martyr leaders in a proportionate and different manner. And we must continue this. This should not end with the end of the first anniversary. Today, Hajj Qassem, Hajj Abu Mahdi, and all the martyrs are torches. They are suns and moons that illuminate the path for us, and this lighting and guidance must continue.
Second point:
The second point that I want to talk about in this commemoration is the impact of this incident from the beginning until today. This incident was strongly present all year long – in the sentiments, emotions, as well as in the political, security, and military equations. As we speak, there is great concern in the region, in the Gulf region and in Iraq and in our region. Yesterday, the “Israelis” announced that they had raised the level of alert and reserve in their army to the highest levels. All this because of the anniversary of the assassination of martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani and martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. This incident imposed itself. And today, the region is in a state of grave tension. Let us not hide behind our finger. We do not know where any incident might drag the region to. The Americans, at the very least, are in a state of fear and worry and are waiting. This is what they are saying.
The brothers in Iran also assume that Trump may prepare something before his departure on January 20. The entire region is in a state of caution and attention. This is as a result of the impact of this incident. This incident cannot be overlooked. And I tell you, this incident will always have a strong impact. Here, I would also like to refer to a very important point because some people here in Lebanon and abroad think in a wrong way. For example, when it comes to the response to the martyrdom of Hajj Qassem Soleimani, some assume that Iran will depend on its proxies as they call them, on its friends, or on its loved ones.
Iran does not ask its proxies, its friends, or its loved ones for anything, and it has never asked them for anything. When Iran decides to respond militarily as it did in Ain al-Assad, it will respond militarily. When it responds on the security level, it will be in accordance with the nature of the incident.
The assassination of the great nuclear scientist, martyr Dr. Fakhrizadeh was a security operation. If Iran wanted to respond militarily, it would have done so from the beginning or in the first few days, as it responded at Ain Al-Assad base after the martyrdom of Hajj Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. If Iran’s friends, who are loyal to the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the martyrs, took the initiative to respond, it is their business and decision. But what I want the enemies, the friends, and the analysts to know so they do not misanalyse is that Iran is not weak. Iran is strong when it wants to respond militarily and at the security level at the appropriate time, place, and manner.
Some people in Lebanon and the region measure Iran in terms of some of its regional friends. Iran is not like that. Here, I am talking to some of the Lebanese as well. When your master, Trump, talks about some of your regional friends, he says they have nothing but money and that “King, we’re protecting you. You might not be there for two weeks without us.” “If we were not defending you, you’d be speaking Farsi in three weeks.”
These are your friends. This is why they need America and others, like the Takfiri groups, and need to finance gangs and mercenaries so that they can defend them, their borders, and even their regimes.
As for Iran, it is strong and does not even need its friends and allies. Let this matter remain clearly present in the minds of everyone who wants to analyze, comment, or approach events of this kind.
Third point:
Also during this commemoration, I want to emphasize that the axis of resistance was able to absorb this big blow. We admit that the blow was very grave and the loss was very great, but the axis was able to absorb it. The Americans, those who helped them, and those who instigated them assumed that when we kill Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the situation in Iraq will turn in their favor and the axis of resistance will collapse. Hajj Qassem represented the wise, courageous, serious, and persevering link, a link that binds the countries, forces, and movements of the axis of resistance. Hence, if we kill this man, the link will be broken.
All this has been addressed and absorbed. Based on our culture, belonging, and history, we know how to turn threats into opportunities. We also know how to transform blood that was unjustly shed into a strong drive to persevere, be steadfast, remain on the path, and be more responsible. They thought that shedding that blood will lead to frustration, despair, carelessness, weakness, withdrawal, or retreat. That is why in the context of this battle, I want the Americans, the “Israelis”, everyone belonging to their axis, and those who kill our leaders and conspire to assassinate our leaders, scholars, elites, or kill our mujahideen, our people, our men and women to know two things very well.
Imam Khomeini used to say, “Kill us; our nation will become more awaken.” Sayyed Abbas used to repeat this phrase: “When you kill us, our people will become more aware.” Look at how Hezbollah in Lebanon was before Sayyed Abbas was martyred. What did it become after his martyrdom? What moral, intellectual, spiritual, and voluntary status and strength did the blood and martyrdom of Sayyed Abbas give to this march? It is the same thing when we talk about the martyrs.
The other thing I wanted to add is when you kill our leaders, we become more adamant, hardened, and more committed to the truth, and our sense of responsibility increases. We’ve lost these great people on this path. How can we abandon it?
Therefore, whoever is betting that murders, assassinations, wars, car bombs, sieges, and sanctions will weaken our will, determination, and resolve is weak. I will later conclude with the sanctions.
Fourth point:
If Iran declared Hajj Qassem Soleimani a national hero in Iran, we are presenting him as a global hero, a global symbol, a world title, and a symbol of sacrifice, redemption, and loyalty that defends the weak and the oppressed, whether they were Muslims or not.
In every battle and in his entire life, Hajj Qassem Soleimani not only defended the Shiites, but he also defended the Sunnis, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Christians, Muslims, the followers of other religions and denominations, Venezuela, and any country or people that could be besieged, weakened, or conspired against. He was present in the squares. These various and great traits that exist in the personality of this leader qualify him to be a global symbol and hero, to be emulated by all the resistance and mujahideen of this world.
There are also great symbols alongside him. In Iraq, there is Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Hajj Imad Mughniyeh and Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine in Lebanon and Syria. There are also martyr leaders in Palestine, Yemen, and other arenas. These are symbols and patriotic and national heroes in their country and their nation. But Hajj Qassem Soleimani leads because he was present in all these squares, present strongly and effectively in all of these squares. That is why he must be rightfully introduced. We are not exaggerating or make a legend out of him or anything. Until this moment, I tell you, what has been revealed about Hajj Qassem Soleimani, about the nature of this figure, about his jihad, his watchfulness and his sacrifices, about his achievements as well as the achievement of all the brothers who worked with him in all arenas, have so far been little. There are things that cannot be revealed since the time to talk about them is not appropriate. But they will be revealed later.
In any case, on the first anniversary, I also call for taking this position, dealing with this name, this scene, this image, and this symbolism at this international and global level.
Fifth point:
The last point that I would like to point to is regarding the future, continuing the path. This incident has repercussions. It has very important implications and effects:
1- Expelling America out of the region: This slogan would not have become a slogan and a declared and serious goal that all the peoples of the region should work if it were not for this historical incident and its magnitude. The Americans created Daesh. Trump talked about Hillary Clinton and Obama, but he did not continue. This means the CIA and the Pentagon, i.e. all the Americans. In other words, the Obama administration created Daesh.
By the way, I remember a funny thing when Daesh appeared. Some Gulf newspapers and this black room in the Gulf worked on a group of magazines and articles published by some media outlets, reporting that a meeting took place on the Iranian-Afghan border with three people attending it – myself, the poor servant, Hajj Qassem Soleimani, and Osama Bin Laden – and made the decision to form Daesh. Take a look at the level of emptiness, stupidity, and shallowness of the media in the other axis.
In any case, when Trump said the Americans created Daesh, they created it for objectives related to Syria, Iraq, and the whole region. A senior American general admitted that they created Daesh. This can be found on social media, and the boys always acquire them. Even Clinton herself admit it. But now, I remember this specifically. He is a retired American major general or lieutenant general – God knows. He was a military commander of NATO. He said we can only fight Hezbollah with Daesh. We created Daesh to fight Hezbollah. Daesh was created so that the American army would return to Iraq and occupation would return to Iraq, but in a different way.
This incident, this assassination pushed the Iraqi people to take to the street. One of the largest demonstrations in the history of the Iraqi people came out following the assassination. It demanded the withdrawal of the American forces. Then, there was the very important decision taken by the Iraqi parliament that is following up on its implementation with the Iraqi government. the talk now is that the Americans will withdraw within a year or two. The Americans promised to withdraw in three years. This is a detail that concerns the Iraqis themselves. But the incident put the US forces on the path out of Iraq, and this is being pursued by the Iraqis themselves with all the means they see fit. So, this is a goal, which is related to the next phase.
2- Just retribution: Imam Khamenei clearly and specifically defined the circle of the killers of martyred commanders Hajj Soleimani and Haji Abu Mahdi – those who ordered and those who carried out the assassination. It is true that, first and foremost, it’s the responsibility of the Iranians to avenge Hajj Qassem and a primary responsibility of the Iraqis to avenge Hajj Abu Mahdi. But I want to repeat what I said a few days ago via Al-Mayadeen. This is also the responsibility of every free, honorable, resistance fighter, and loyal person on the planet to be a partner in enforcing this punishment.
3- To continue to defend the states, peoples, and movements of the resistance against all the threats that may arise. We are witnessing a revival of some of these takfiri groups, in Iraq and Syria. Recently, there were dangerous operations carried out by Daesh.
4- Palestine, Al-Quds, and the holy sites. It is our natural right to continue to stand by this dear and generous people.
This is the path, and this axis will continue on this path and this battle. Of course, every person should follow it in accordance with what is appropriate for his country, taking into account the group of national interests. We did that and we still do. This axis is managed by its leaders in different countries with reason, wisdom, and understanding of the circumstances of each other in an accurate and responsible manner, not as some imagine. Had it not been for this situation in the leadership of the axis, all these victories and achievements would not have been accomplished. The defeats that befell the other anxious and dilapidated projects would not have been possible. We have a horizon, but the others don’t. It is through logic, evidence, proof, and argument and not through pretense and slogan, and giving empty morale. Absolutely not.
This is all I’m going to talk about regarding the first martyrdom anniversary of the two great martyr commanders. With regard to the Lebanese file, I felt that if I were to speak at length, it will take more time. Since I wanted to conclude before seven o’clock, I will, God willing, speak in a few days. We’ll see maybe Thursday or Friday, so there’s a break between the two speeches. It will be a speech solely on Lebanese issues. There are several topics that I’d like to talk about, including the government, the developments and the investigation regarding the port, the Americans interfering in the issue of the port, judicial developments regarding this matter, the living and social situation. I have something to say about the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association. According to our data, the Americans paid some television stations hundreds of thousands of dollars to only report on the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association. Since Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association has become the subject of official, political, and media attention, I’d like to talk about this topic. I will also talk about the banks, the depositors, the sanctions, and the political choices. Now we are hearing about political and economic choices. So, God willing, my next talk will be purely about the Lebanese file. Now the demarcation of the border and the situation with the “Israeli” enemy, the resistance, oil and gas, in any case, we have talked today and we have spoken several days ago. But God willing, I will focus on these topics.
I would like to conclude by advising those who are thinking about imposing a siege and sanctions. I asked the brothers here to give me a list. They provided me with a long list that dates back to last year and the year before. In the past few months, in particular, the Trump administration has been working on luring countries to normalize [ties with “Israel”] and others to place Hezbollah on the terror and sanctions lists. The Americans worked on this. There were even countries that we never heard of or countries that are of no value to us, like Slovenia. I don’t want to underestimate any country. But if you asked the Lebanese people, what is Slovenia? Some might say it’s the name of a ship, an island, a hotel. With all due respect to this state, this is the reality. For example, there are small countries in far away corners of the world that no one has heard of and no one knows anything about declaring that they have placed Hezbollah on the terror list. Of course, how do we know about this? From the Americans.
Pompeo would call them and thank them. Good job. God bless you. So, what’s the story? They placed Hezbollah on the terror list. Of course, they know this does nothing. Its goal is psychological – to make the Lebanese people or Hezbollah feel besieged, that the world is besieging it and rejecting it, the world is placing it on the terror list. This is part of the subjugation battle.
I want to end on a moral note. In our culture, we believe in God Almighty and that the realm of the heavens and earth and everything is in the hand of God Almighty. And we consider that we are doing our taklif [religious obligation]. As His servants, we worship Him. We worship Him during prayers and in jihad. When we obey Him and worship Him, we become His soldiers. When we become His soldiers, we become among His soldiers in this existence and in this universe.
{And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him.}
Even if you besieged us in a small plot of land, we are the ones to feel it. Just for you to know who you are fighting and besieging. We do not feel that we are trapped. We have the land, the mountains, the valleys, the dirt, the rivers, the seas, the oceans, the clouds, the wind, the sun, the moon, the stars, the seven heavens, the angels, and what He has created from what we know and what we do not know all on our side. We feel that you are the ones that are trapped. America and its greatness are trapped. Our enemies are all trapped. We are not besieged. He who believes in God cannot feel surrounded even if all the landscape closed down on him.
You are fighting a failed battle that will not lead to any results. Killing us will only increase our awareness, persistence, and determination. Besieging us will only increase our confidence, dependence, and connection to the true source of strength that creates victory. {And victory is not but from Allah.}
“And never presume those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. On the contrary, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provisions.” (Quran, 3:169)
One year ago, Sardar Soleimani, the Commander of Qods Force of the Islamic Revolution was killed in the hands of personalities that are in a tight competition with themselves to win first place in wretchedness and virulence. On the occasion of the 1st anniversary of Sardar Soleimani’s martyrdom, the leader of the Ansarullah Party and the resistance group in Yemen, Abulmalik Al-Houthi sent an official letter the content of which is quite noteworthy and significant.
I have chosen to translate that letter for the Saker blog for three specific reasons. First, to remember Sardar Soleimani’s martyrdom by highlighting Yemeni people’s significant role in regional resistance against the most wretched and virulent characters in the world. Second, to give a glimpse of how Sardar Soleimani has influenced, in life and in death, some of the most prominent personalities and movements in the Resistance camp. Third, to provide some insight into one of the most significant doctrines in Shi’a Islam: that of Mahdawiyyat that relates to notable events of the End of Time.
It is clear that the words and titles Abdulmalik Al-Houthi has used in his letter to describe Sardar Soleimani’s life, the conditions surrounding his martyrdom, his killers, and his role after his martyrdom were carefully chosen and are quite loaded with meaning. The specific verses of Quran he recites, too, carry significant messages especially for those who are deeply informed about Shi’a Muslim’s history and the prophecies regarding Mahdawiyyat signs and symbols in Islam.
Shi’a follows the developments in Yemen with a special interest and care because it is, according to reliable Shi’a sources, from Yemen that the movement and push against world injustices and oppressive transgressors begins its very final march to the heart of the army of the transgressors. Their activities, it is stated, will be supported by those of the Iranian Shi’a, God Willing.
Flag of Iran held side-by-side the most widely-used flag of the Houthies.
In the series regarding Imamat and Wilayat Faqih, I will, Inshallah, cover the concepts of Mahdawiyyat and End of Time according to Shi’a. For now, the Al-Houthi Leader of Yemen’s letter is important to review.
“Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.”
“God’s Peace be upon the Great Prophet and his Pure Household.”
“God Almighty states in Quran, ‘Among the believers, there are men who remained truthful to the pledge they made with Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration’ [Surah 33 (Al-Ahzab), Verse 23]. Says the Truth, God, the Exalted, the Great.’”
“After citing this verse, I am remembering the martyr of the Islamic Ummah and the great warrior, Haj Qasim Soleimani (May God, the Exalted, be satisfied with him), upon whom God’s blessings were bestowed so that he is put side-by-side these believing men [refers to the ones singled out in the Quranic Verse]. The believing men whose most important trait is their sincerity and truthfulness with God, the Exalted.”
“Martyr Haj Qasim Soleimani, while in waiting (wa minhum man yantazir), was resolute and steadfast. The sincerity of Martyr Soliemani relationship with God, the Exalted, was evident in his strong will, his tireless efforts, and his dedication in the path of God, the Exalted. He was an ever-present warrior of Islam in every field and in every battle zone with his strong belief and his unwavering resolve.”
“It was God’s Favor and Blessing to have Martyr Haj Qasim Soleimani’s path in life, from his youth, to be an excellent soldier with belief, strong ethics, and highly effective in the path of God, the Exalted, and to serve with utmost sincerity and loyalty and without interruption, under the flag of Wilayat of Imam Khomeini (May God be satisfied with him) and subsequently under Imam Khamenei (May God protect him).”
“Martyr Haj Qasim Soleimani never tired in this path. The more time passed, the more intense his activities and the greater his impact became. He excelled in belief and sacrifice one step after another.”
“He did not alter his stance and no one could force him to do so because he was the true flag bearer of sincerity just as Imam Ali (Allahu-Salam) states, ‘loyalty and sincerity are twins.’ Just as God, the Exalted, states, ‘they never turn their backs to their promises and pledges.’ And this is the core issue in resistance and in steadfastness under all conditions and along the way. People of this caliber are neither influenced by material and non-material temptations and lose their true color nor do they waiver when faced with challenges and difficulties, nor do they succumb to attrition under ongoing sufferings and obstacles, nor do they become unsteady with talks and bickering of hopeless backbiters.”
“People like these are never afflicted with doubt in their stance and with their adherence to Wilayat and their grasp onto the Wilayat of Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhu-wa-Allihi-wa-Sallam) and his Pure Household. Haj Qasim had borrowed Ali’s (AS) bravery, Hussain’s (AS) sacrifice, and Abbas’s (AS) strong will and endurance. This brave warrior is a student of Sayydu-Shoahda’s [Imam Hussain] school of thought and he was, in his exemplary struggles, sacrifice, bravery, and humbleness, OFHussain.”
“However, as he lived in the waiting phase (wa minhum man yantazir) and when he began transitioning into the state of martyrdom in the path of God, the Exalted, (wa minhum man qaza nuhbah), I must reiterate this point that Haj Qasim (May God be satisfied with him) achieved a rather special kind of martyrdom: For, the order for his killing was issued by the Yazid of our time, that is Trump and the US, and the operatives of this order were his criminal soldiers who were just like Shimr.”
“Haj Qasim offered his soul to God, the Exalted, and his body was torn into pieces just like that of Ali Akbar (AS). And it is here when our beloved sister Zaynab (SA) states, ‘O, God, please accept this sacrifice from us.’”
“Haj Qasim (May God be satisfied with him) become immortal in history just as he achieved the company of the Great Prophet Muhammad (SAWAW) and other True Prophets and the Sidiqin [The Truthful] and the martyrs and the good-doers regarding God’s Grace and Blessings. And just as he become immortal in the hearts of all free people of the world and the future generations. Just as he is, right now, present with his impacts and roles in every scene and every battlefield alongside us. He is present among us.”
“It was God’s favor upon him to make him a soldier among God’s, the Exalted, soldiers. He possessed one of the highest degrees of insight, intelligence, authenticity, sacrifice, and humbleness just as he was playing a significant role in every scene and every battlefield. Just as he achieve deliverance with his special kind of martyrdom. The sort of martyrdom that demonstrated how effective and impactful he was and how furious the oppressive transgressors were with him.”
“God, the Exalted, granted him the blessing of jihad so that he could, as God’s, the Exalted, soldier to raise the flag of Islam properly and just as it is befitting of devotees of Imam Hussain (AS). Martyrdom in the path of God is honor and dignity for us.”
“O, God Almighty, accept this righteous warrior, Haj Qasim Soleimani, next to You and assign him the most excellent position among the martyrs and grant us the favor to be followers of his path! Sallallahu-wa-Sallam ala Abdihi wa Rasulihi Muhmmad wa Alihi-Tahirin.”
Abdul-Malik Badriddin Al-Huthi,
11 Jamadi-al-Awwal; 6th Day 1399 [January 2, 2020]
May God grant us, too, His Favor to be in the same path as Shahid Sardar Qasim Soleimani, an authentic Shi’a of Imam Ali (AS). Peace be upon you.
UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 