Gen. Qaani: Quds Force to stand by Hezbollah until Zionism eradicated

The commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has reaffirmed the force’s support for the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah until the full liberation of the occupied al-Quds and the eradication of the Israeli regime.

In a statement, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani extended his felicitations on the appointment of Sheikh Naim Qassem as Hezbollah’s new leader after the Israeli assassination in September of the movement’s former Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“I assure you that your brothers in the Quds Force will stand by Your Excellency and Hezbollah until the elimination and eradication of the evil lineage of Zionism and the freedom of Palestine and Holy al-Quds,” Qaani said.

The top commander also praised the appointment of Sheikh Qassem as Hezbollah’s new leader and commemorated the sacrifices of his predecessor, Nasrallah, as well as former head of Hezbollah executive council Hashem Safieddine, who were both martyred in Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital of Beirut’s southern district of Dahieh.

“By the grace of God, the resplendent and struggle-filled path of the martyrs will continue with more speed and strength under the management and leadership of Your Excellency,” Qaani added.

Sheikh Qassem is a veteran figure in Hezbollah, having served as deputy secretary general of the Lebanese resistance group since 1991.

He was appointed deputy secretary general under Hezbollah’s late secretary general, Abbas al-Musawi, who was assassinated by an Israeli helicopter attack in 1992. Qassem remained in the role when Nasrallah became leader.

Naim Qassem elected as new chief of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement

Naim Qassem has been elected as the new chief of Hezbollah.

IRGC vows ‘unimaginable’ response to Israel

In another development on Thursday, IRGC’s Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami warned the Israeli regime of an “unimaginable” response for its recent act of aggression against Iran.

Addressing a cultural event in Iran’s southern province of Fars, Salami pointed to the Israeli attack on Iran on October 26, saying the regime is mistaken to think that it can change history by launching a few rockets.

The IRGC chief reminded the Israeli regime of Iran’s retaliatory Operation True Promise II in early October, warning Tel Aviv that it would be given “an unimaginable response” for its latest act of aggression.

“The Israelis think they can change history by launching a few rockets,” Salami underlined. “You may not have forgotten Operation True Promise II and how Iran's missiles pierced through the skies and your missile defense systems failed and wiped the sleep out of the people's eyes. You intruded, but should know that we will give you an unimaginable response.”

Iran capable of conducting ‘dozens’ of True Promise-like operations against Israel: Defense min.

Iran’s defense minister says the country is capable of conducting dozens of retaliatory operations like Operation True Promise.

On October 1, the Islamic Republic launched 200 missiles towards Israeli military and intelligence bases all over the occupied territories as part of Operation True Promise II.

The operation came in response to more deadly atrocities by the regime against the country and other regional nations, including Israel's assassinations of the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s leader Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan, a commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The operation came six months after its prequel that saw the country firing more than 300 missiles and drones against the occupied territories in reprisal for deadly aggression by the Israeli regime that had targeted Iranian diplomatic facilities in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier that month.

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