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TEHRAN \u2013 The Leader of the Islamic Revolution and other Iranian officials has extended their sympathies towards Hashem Safieddine, a high-ranking Hezbollah member recently martyred by Israeli forces in Beirut.<\/p>\n
Safieddine, who had been expected to succeed Nasrallah as Hezbollah\u2019s secretary-general, was a pivotal figure in the Resistance. His death comes amid heightened Israeli aggression toward Lebanon, which intensified following Israel\u2019s war on Gaza last October. Since then, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 2,574 people.<\/p>\n
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, honored late Hashem Safieddine, praising Hezbollah as “the most formidable protector of Lebanon” and a crucial defense against Israeli crimes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a message issued Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei paid tribute to Safieddine, whom he described as \u201cone of Hezbollah\u2019s most prominent leaders and a trusted ally of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the role of Safieddine and other Hezbollah leaders in fortifying Lebanon against division and securing it from Israeli occupation forces, which once pushed as far as Beirut.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the wisdom and courage of leaders like Safieddine, Hezbollah has shielded Lebanon from threats of disintegration and countered the ongoing danger posed by the occupying regime, which has time and again shown its brutal reach,\u201d Ayatollah Khamenei said.<\/p>\n
He went on to commend the sacrifices made by Hezbollah fighters under Nasrallah\u2019s leadership, which he credited with thwarting Israeli ambitions to annex parts of southern Lebanon, including regions like the Litani River and the city of Tyre. \u201cTheir courage saved Lebanon from being absorbed into the Israeli-occupied territories. Hezbollah risked its resources, honor, and lives to safeguard Lebanon\u2019s sovereignty, frustrating the Zionist regime\u2019s aggressive ambitions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed those concerned with Lebanon\u2019s future, urging them to recognize Hezbollah\u2019s role in preserving the nation\u2019s independence and resist any attempts to distort the truth about the group\u2019s actions. \u201cToday, Hezbollah remains Lebanon\u2019s strongest defender and the solid barrier against the Zionist regime\u2019s greed, which has long threatened to divide Lebanon. The enemy tries to undermine Hezbollah\u2019s critical role in defending Lebanon. Those who care for the country should not let this false narrative take root,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed the Islamic Republic\u2019s support for Hezbollah and the Palestinian cause, underscoring Iran\u2019s continued commitment to backing those who resist occupation. \u201cHezbollah is alive and thriving, and with God\u2019s grace, the Islamic Republic will continue to support the fighters of Al-Quds and all those standing against the criminal forces that have seized Palestine,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended heartfelt condolences following the assassination of senior Hezbollah figure Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Describing Safieddine as a \u201cgreat man of jihad and martyrdom,\u201d Pezeshkian honored his dedication to the people of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as his role in strengthening the regional Resistance movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his Wednesday statement, the president noted that Safieddine drew strength from the teachings of Ashura, the defining Shia commemoration of struggle against injustice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe leaves behind a remarkable legacy of resilience in the face of oppression and tyranny, one that will inspire future generations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also released a statement on Wednesday, expressing grief over Safieddine\u2019s death.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He emphasized the strategic importance of West Asia, particularly Lebanon and Palestine, where he believes Western powers prioritize \u201csacrificing humanity and resistance\u201d to maintain Israel\u2019s position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Salami underscored that those dedicated to Islamic resistance, inspired by martyrdom, embody unparalleled heroism that will thwart the plans of foreign interests in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day when this malignant tumor, Israel, is eradicated from the Islamic world is not far off,\u201d Salami declared.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also paid tribute to Safieddine, portraying him as a symbol of unity who gave his life for Islam, Palestine, and Lebanon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Qalibaf condemned Israel\u2019s brutal killing of defenseless civilians in Lebanon and Gaza, attributing this violence to its recent military setbacks against the Resistance Front.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFacing defeat, the Zionist regime resorts to heinous acts, such as targeting civilians, as it did with Safieddine in Lebanon,\u201d he stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Qalibaf concluded by affirming his belief that those who pursue martyrdom in defense of faith ultimately attain divine victory, calling it \u201can eternal path for all who fight in the way of God.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n