IRGC to Hold Ceremony in Tehran for Slain Hezbollah Commander

On June 3, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced that it will hold a ceremony on Tuesday for Mustafa Badreddine, the senior commander of Hezbollah Lebanon who was killed in Syria. In the IRGC's statement published by Tasnim News Agency, the slain commander of Hezbollah Lebanon is described as possessing 'outstanding capabilities in planning and designing Hezbollah operations.' The statement describes Badreddine as 'an inspiration for the fighters and jihadists' in what is termed 'frustrating the regional policies of the oppressive system, Zionism, and combating Takfiri terrorism.' Iran is one of the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad; Hezbollah militants, who are also major allies of Tehran in the region, are present alongside Iranian forces in Syria and assist government troops in battles against Assad's opponents. Almost all regional countries, including Arab nations, Turkey, and major Western countries from the US to Europe, oppose Bashar al-Assad and demand his resignation. The West and regional countries support some armed groups in Syria. Meanwhile, both a coalition led by the US and the Syrian government forces and their allies, sometimes supported by Russia, are engaged in conflict with groups like the 'Islamic State' and 'Jabhat al-Nusra.' Iran and the central Syrian government primarily refer to Assad's opponents as 'Takfiri.' From the perspective of the United Nations, 'Islamic State' and 'Jabhat al-Nusra' are recognized as 'terrorist' groups, and the Syrian ceasefire does not include them. Part of the IRGC's statement mentions that Badreddine took over the leadership of Hezbollah's military branch after the killing of Imad Mughniyeh. Mughniyeh was killed nearly a decade ago; Badreddine had been Hezbollah's military commander since then. Mughniyeh is considered one of the architects of Hezbollah's defensive lines in the 33-day war in 2006 with Israel. His name also appears among those accused of the bombing of a Jewish temple in Argentina in the 1990s. Hezbollah Lebanon confirmed on May 14 that Mustafa Badreddine had been killed in Syria. The group identified 'Takfiris' as the cause of Badreddine's death. Badreddine was also on the US sanctions blacklist. He was considered one of the main suspects in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, and was sentenced to death in Kuwait for his involvement in a series of bombings, although reports later emerged that he had escaped from prison.