Khamenei praises Soleimani's unique sacrifices

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has praised as “unique” the sacrifices of Iran’s top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated alongside his companions in a 2020 US drone strike near Iraq’s International Airport in Baghdad.

“Martyr Soleimani's constant strategy was to revive the Resistance Front. He always tried to revitalize the resistance,” the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei was speaking at a meeting with a group of families of martyrs, veterans, and resistance activists ahead of General Soleimani's fifth martyrdom anniversary on January 3.

The Leader described the top Iranian commander’s role in the fight against terrorism as “matchless” and said his sacrifices and services “must remain in our political teachings.”

He said defending the holy sites was a “tenet” for Martyr Soleimani, who invariably referenced Iran as a “sacred shrine.”

“If these lives had not been lost, if this struggle had not been fought, and if Hajj Qassem Soleimani had not marched through the mountains and deserts of this region so bravely…, there would be no sign of these holy sites today,” the Leader said.

“He believed that every important regional and global incident had an impact on the issues in our country, and with this perspective and assessment, he detected the danger from outside the borders and took action to prevent and remedy it.” Khamenei said.

Touching on Syria, the Leader emphasized that the American bases in the Arab country would be trampled upon under the feet of Syrian youth.

“Syria belongs to the Syrian people, and those who invade Syrian territory will undoubtedly one day be forced to retreat in the face of the power of the valiant Syrian youth,” he noted.

The United States assassinated General Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.