Soleimani: The Best Way to Avenge Mughniyeh is the Destruction of Israel

Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, stated during a memorial ceremony for Imad Mughniyeh, the military commander of Hezbollah Lebanon, in Tehran that the best way to avenge Mughniyeh's killing is the destruction of Israel. Soleimani made these remarks on Wednesday, February 14, during the tenth anniversary of Mughniyeh's death. Imad Fayez Mughniyeh, known as Abu Ridwan, was killed on February 12, 2008, during one of his trips to Syria, in Damascus, the capital of the country. Hezbollah and Iran have always attributed Mughniyeh's assassination to the Israeli Mossad; Israel has remained silent on this matter to date. According to Fars News Agency, Soleimani said at the memorial: 'The enemy knows, but it must seriously understand that the retribution for Imad Mughniyeh's blood is not the firing of a missile and killing one person; the retribution for this blood is the destruction of the Zionist regime [Israel], and the enemy knows that this is a certainty; this is a divine promise that will definitely be fulfilled.' He also referred to Israel as 'a child-killing regime that will be eradicated' and added, 'Today, no sustainable factor is seen in this regime,' and 'Gaza and Lebanon are points of constant anxiety for Israel.' The Associated Press, recalling that Imad Mughniyeh was one of the most wanted terrorists by the US and Israel, reported that leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran have long called for the destruction of Israel; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated three years ago that Israel would not see the next 25 years. According to Fars, Soleimani referred to Mughniyeh as 'the son of the Imam [Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic]' while quoting Ayatollah Khamenei. Soleimani also claimed that 'the one who connected Palestinian groups with the center of resistance and brought Yasser Arafat to Iran for the first time was Imad Mughniyeh.' Mughniyeh was about 17 years old at the time of the Iranian revolution, and his influence among Palestinian leaders and the Palestine Liberation Organization or the Lebanese community is not well known. However, according to Fars, Soleimani also stated that he 'empowered Hamas; activated the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and it was this thought that was able to turn Gaza into an impregnable fortress.' According to Qassem Soleimani, 'In every missile fired from Palestine (towards Israel), one can see the fingerprints of Imad Mughniyeh.' The Quds Force commander also referred to his extensive communications with Imad Mughniyeh, including during the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006. The Quds Force commander also called Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah Lebanon, 'Ayatollah Nasrallah' and said, 'He often carries the signs of God; is being an Ayatollah only about jurisprudence? He is the standing Ayat of God....' According to Iranian news agencies, the tenth anniversary of Imad Mughniyeh's death was held at the Iranian Ministry of Interior. Nabil Qaouk, commander of the southern branch of Hezbollah, and several other senior forces under Mughniyeh, one of his daughters, and Ahmad Jibril, the leader of the 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command,' were among the guests at the ceremony. Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on international affairs, and Mohammad Hossein Abutalebi, a principlist cleric who was introduced this week by Ayatollah Khamenei as one of the new temporary Imams of Friday prayers in Tehran, were also present at the ceremony. The US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and several Gulf monarchies, as well as the international community, consider Hezbollah a terrorist group; the US and Israel emphasize that Hezbollah is the most important regional arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Meanwhile, Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, who met with leaders of this country in Beirut on Thursday, February 15, stated before his trip to Lebanon that Hezbollah is under Iranian influence... but is part of the political process in Lebanon. In this context, new US sanctions against Hezbollah are aimed at 'reducing Iranian influence.' The US and Argentina have agreed to cooperate against Hezbollah in Latin America. France: Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militants should leave Syria. Nikki Haley: Iran and Hezbollah have planned for a long-term presence in Syria. Tillerson: Hezbollah is part of the political process in Lebanon.