Iran warns its Lebanese, Gaza proxies can ‘level Haifa, Tel Aviv to the ground’
A senior Iranian commander has warned that the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given the green light for Tehran-backed proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip “to level” two of Israel’s three largest cities.
Gen. Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told Al-Manar TV that the terrorist groups would destroy Haifa and Tel Aviv if “any foolishness is committed against Iran,” warning that the Islamic republic has been working for years on developing the capabilities of its proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
“All the missile capabilities of Gaza and Lebanon have been supported by Iran, and they are the front line for confrontation,” he added.
Noting that “the capabilities of the resistance axis” are much advanced from what they were 10 years ago Hajizadeh said, “today, the Palestinians fire rockets instead of throwing stones.”
A senior Iranian commander has warned that the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given the green light for Tehran-backed proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip “to level” two of Israel’s three largest cities. Gen. Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told Al-Manar TV that the terrorist groups would destroy Haifa and Tel Aviv if “any foolishness is committed against Iran,” warning that the Islamic republic has been working for years on developing the capabilities of its proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. “All the missile capabilities of Gaza and Lebanon have been supported by Iran, and they are the front line for confrontation,” he added. Noting that “the capabilities of the resistance axis” are much advanced from what they were 10 years ago Hajizadeh said, “today, the Palestinians fire rockets instead of throwing stones.” Noting that “the capabilities of the resistance axis” are much advanced from what they were 10 years ago Hajizadeh said, “today, the Palestinians fire rockets instead of throwing stones.”
Washington orders US aircraft carrier to remain in Middle East amid Iranian threats
Days after ordering a United States aircraft carrier out of the Middle East, the country’s acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller has reversed that decision, instructing the USS Nimitz to remain in place due to purported Iranian threats “against President Trump and other US government officials.”
Miller said in a statement Sunday night that he had “ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment.” The carrier will now “remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations,” Miller added. “No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”
Last week, the acting Defense Secretary had decided against a push to extend the carrier’s deployment in the Persian Gulf, a surprising move given rising tensions between Washington and Tehran around the anniversary of the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last year. In the last days of 2020, the US flew nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East, prompting a senior Iranian military adviser to tweet directly at Trump, warning him “not to turn the New Year into a mourning for Americans.”
Days after ordering a United States aircraft carrier out of the Middle East, the country’s acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller has reversed that decision, instructing the USS Nimitz to remain in place due to purported Iranian threats “against President Trump and other US government officials.” Miller said in a statement Sunday night that he had “ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment.” The carrier will now “remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations,” Miller added. “No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.” Last week, the acting Defense Secretary had decided against a push to extend the carrier’s deployment in the Persian Gulf, a surprising move given rising tensions between Washington and Tehran around the anniversary of the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last year. US aircraft carrier US aircraft carrier
IRGC General Denies Israeli Claims of Attacks on Iranians in Syria
The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force dismissed fake reports that the Zionist regime has been hitting Iranian forces in Syria.
In an interview with Al Mayadeen TV, Brigadier General Mohammad Hejazi slammed as “fake claims” and false media propaganda many of the reports that the Zionist regime has launched attacks on Iranian forces in Syria.
He said the Israeli regime claims that Iranian forces are stationed in Syria, while Iran has never had any forces or units stationed in Syria since the Iranians have been involved in advisory missions in the Arab country.
A military adviser’s mission could be restricted to consultation and dialogue, but he may sometimes go to the field to carry out an evaluation, the general explained.“Iran’s presence in Syria has not involved the stationing of forces and units from the beginning. Our advisors have been present in the units and offered guides. But the (Israeli) claim that they have hit a base or garrison belonging to Iran is not true, because such a thing does not exist (in Syria),” he added. General Hejazi then noted that the Israeli regime is well aware that the martyrdom of any Iranian individual will draw a response from the Islamic Republic. “We will definitely respond, as responses have been given in the past.”The commander then confirmed that the Zionist regime has attacked a truck that the Zionists claim has been carrying weapons, and has launched strikes on the Syrian Army base which it claims has been at Iran’s disposal, IFP reported. A series of damages have been done to the Syrian Army and a number of facilities, but those actions have been responded to appropriately, the IRGC general stressed.
IRGC Commander: 2,000km Range of Iranian Missiles Not Permanent
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh underlined Iran has limited the range of its missiles to 2,000km on the basis of its own decision, but the decision is not something permanent.
“The power of our missiles can be seen in the comments of our enemies. No one has forced us to restrict ourselves to the range of 2,000km because we do not talk to anyone about our missile power.
It (2,000km range) was our decision and this range is not permanent for us,” General Hajizadeh said in an interview with the Arabic-language al-Manar news channel.
He reiterated the country’s position on the prohibition of talks on its missile power, saying that negotiation on the issue is a national redline.
The Iranian foreign ministry in a statement in December dismissed any possibility for holding talks on issues related to its defense program and national security, saying that regional instabilities are rooted in the European states’ huge arms trades with the Persian Gulf Arab states.
“We are firm and clear in our view that the nuclear deal will not be renegotiated. By maximum resistance, Iran showed to the world that it does not negotiate with anyone over its national security and national interests, and speculations over this point have no root in reality.
Iran has its own defense priorities and will act accordingly,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters in a press conference in Tehran.
“We do not talk to anyone about issues related to national interests and national security and defense, nor do we allow anyone to joke with us in this regard.
They know better than anyone the root causes of unrest in the region.
Today, there is a flood of exports of arms and special and advanced weapons by European countries to the Persian Gulf Arab states and they have turned the region into an arsenal of their deadly weapons,” he added.
Iran will face US on the battlefield, the IRGC leader says
Iran will face the US on the battlefield and the Iranian military personnel is fully prepared to respond to military pressure from the United States, Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Friday, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing Interfax.
“Today, we have no problems, worries, or fears of clashing with any force. We will give our last word on our enemies on the battlefield,” the Associated Press [AP] quoted him as saying.
Salami spoke at the University of Tehran at a memorial service for General Kasem Soleimani, who was killed in the U.S. operation in Baghdad a year ago.
The head of the Iranian judiciary, Ibrahim Raisi, said at the same event that everyone involved in Suleimani’s assassination “cannot escape law and justice.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement saying that Tehran will not rest until Soleimani’s murder is brought to justice.
“By committing a cowardly act of terror against General Soleimani, the United States has violated international law and the UN Charter, grossly violating Iraqi sovereignty.
U.S. lawlessness entirely. Iran will not rest until it brings the perpetrators to justice,” the ministry said on Twitter.
On January 3, 2020, it became known in Baghdad the death of Iranian commander Kasem Soleimani and deputy commander of the Shiite militia in Iraq Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis U.S. special operation conducted by the U.S. military on the instructions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response to the operation, on the night of January 8, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at the Ain al-Assad airbase and a military facility in Iraq’s Erbil area U.S. troops are stationed.
In early December, Politico, citing an unnamed U.S. defense official, said the U.S. military in the Middle East had been put on high alert, particularly in connection with the upcoming anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination.
Israel continues its campaign of targeting Iranian-affiliated sites in Syria
Israel continues to operate its “war between the wars” campaign against Iranian activity in Syria with airstrikes in the city of al-Zabadani, located near the Lebanon-Syria border on Wednesday morning. This is the second instance of an Israeli attack against Iranian-affiliated positions in Syria in less than a week.
At approximately 1:30 in the morning local time, reports surfaced in Tyre, Lebanon of Israeli aircraft flying at low altitude. A short time thereafter, the Syrian state-controlled news agency (SANA) reported air defense units were actively responding to an Israeli attack in the Damascus countryside.
Residents near the area of the attack posted footage online which showed a large explosion after the airstrikes occurred.
SANA followed-up its initial report with an assessment of the damage caused by the airstrikes.
“At exactly 1:30 am today, the Israeli enemy carried out an air assault with bursts of rockets from northern Galilee, targeting a unit of our air defense in the Nabi Habil area in the Damascus countryside. Our air defenses intercepted some of the aggressor’s missiles, which resulted in one martyr, wounding of three soldiers and material losses,” the statement said.
Israel continues to operate its “war between the wars” campaign against Iranian activity in Syria with airstrikes in the city of al-Zabadani, located near the Lebanon-Syria border on Wednesday morning. This is the second instance of an Israeli attack against Iranian-affiliated positions in Syria in less than a week. At approximately 1:30 in the morning local time, reports surfaced in Tyre, Lebanon of Israeli aircraft flying at low altitude. A short time thereafter, the Syrian state-controlled news agency (SANA) reported air defense units were actively responding to an Israeli attack in the Damascus countryside. Residents near the area of the attack posted footage online which showed a large explosion after the airstrikes occurred. SANA followed-up its initial report with an assessment of the damage caused by the airstrikes. Iranian-affiliated sites Iranian-affiliated sites Iranian-affiliated sites
IRGC commdr: Gen. Soleimani, a hero who defeated hegemonic powers
Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Esmail Qa’ani described the martyred commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani as a hero of the Islamic Ummah who defeated the hegemonic powers.
He made the remarks in a ceremony Friday morning to mark the first anniversary of the martyrdom of the late commander of the Quds forces Gen. Soleimani who was assassinated by the US forces in Baghdad.
He said that one of the most outstanding characteristics of General Qassem Soleimani was his strong logic concerning all issues.
At the first martyrdom anniversary of General Soleimani and his companions, General Gha’ani stated that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei offered martyr Soleimani three medals of honor at their last meeting.
General Soleimani is considered the great champion of defeating the global arrogance for the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah (the Muslim world), Ghajini noted.
Martyr Soleimani was the man of resistance, who initiated the process from within himself because he knew that it is impossible to pursue the way of resistance when you have not been practicing resistance from yourself, Ghajini said, adding that the word Resistance includes insight, prayer, sincerity, sacrifice as well as all Islamic and human values. There are numerous speeches about General Soleimani’s performance in leading military fields and forces, whereas one of the most outstanding characteristics of the martyr was his strong logic because he had good reasoning in addressing any topic and he could use different logic when others could not understand his reasons, he added. General Ghajini underlined that the enemy has sought to assassinate martyrs Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
Iranian militias lure recruits in Syria, monitoring group reports
Cairo: Militias allied with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have started a military and ideological course in areas under their control in war-wrecked Syria, a monitoring group reported today.
The 40-day course under way in the city of Al Maydan in the eastern governorate of Deir Al Zour has drawn nearly 100 locals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Revolutionary Guard command will sort out and distribute the new recruits to its sites spread in Deir Al Zour, the Observatory said.
Iran is a major ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and has established a foothold in the country over nearly a decade of civil war.
Read the complete article at: Gulf News
Cairo: Militias allied with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have started a military and ideological course in areas under their control in war-wrecked Syria, a monitoring group reported today. The 40-day course under way in the city of Al Maydan in the eastern governorate of Deir Al Zour has drawn nearly 100 locals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Revolutionary Guard command will sort out and distribute the new recruits to its sites spread in Deir Al Zour, the Observatory said. Iran is a major ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and has established a foothold in the country over nearly a decade of civil war. Cairo: Militias allied with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have started a military and ideological course in areas under their control in war-wrecked Syria, a monitoring group reported today. The 40-day course under way in the city of Al Maydan in the eastern governorate of Deir Al Zour has drawn nearly 100 locals, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Revolutionary Guard command will sort out and distribute the new recruits to its sites spread in Deir Al Zour, the Observatory said.
The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, Major General Esmail Qaani, criticised Saudi Arabia over what he said was the kingdom’s “subordination to the United States”.
Speaking at a closed meeting of the Iranian Parliament, Qaani said: “Saudi Arabia is living under the weight of humiliation as a result of its subordination and association with the United States of America.”
The withdrawal of American forces from the region is “imminent”, he added, stressing on the “need to avenge” the assassination of his predecessor Qasem Soleimani.
“Given the measures on the resistance forces’ agenda, the American forces’ retreat from the region is imminent,” he said.
Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad International Airport last January.
The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, Major General Esmail Qaani, criticised Saudi Arabia over what he said was the kingdom’s “subordination to the United States”. Speaking at a closed meeting of the Iranian Parliament, Qaani said: “Saudi Arabia is living under the weight of humiliation as a result of its subordination and association with the United States of America.” The withdrawal of American forces from the region is “imminent”, he added, stressing on the “need to avenge” the assassination of his predecessor Qasem Soleimani. “Given the measures on the resistance forces’ agenda, the American forces’ retreat from the region is imminent,” he said. Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad International Airport last January. The withdrawal of American forces from the region is “imminent”, he added, stressing on the “need to avenge” the assassination of his predecessor Qasem Soleimani. “Given the measures on the resistance forces’ agenda, the American forces’ retreat from the region is imminent,” he said. Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad International Airport last January. Quds Force leader Quds Force leader Quds Force leader
Iran says prepares indictment against assassins of Gen Soleimani
Iran has prepared documents to issue a criminal indictment against assassins of Lt General Soleimani, a senior official has announced.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the spokesman for headquarters in charge of organizing the first anniversary of the assassination of General Soleimani, made the remarks at a TV program on Wednesday.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force Lt General Soleimani was assassinated in the US terrorist attack on his motorcade at Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020.
A day after the assassination of General Soleimani, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed that Iran reserves the right to take revenge by proportionate military action, and will do it. Amir-Abdollahian said that indictment against 48 defendants who carried out the assassination or abetted the heinous crime in the January terrorist attack is ready. Today, Iran could identify who was the leader of the attack, from which country the attack was carried out and who gave information about the terrorist operations to the US, he said. Amir-Abdollahian, the special aide to Iran’s Majlis speaker, said all documents needed for issuing the criminal indictment against the assassins are ready. Iran’s Judiciary has been busy during the past year to collect the documents in and out of the country, he noted. The Judiciary could find who gave information about the travel of Gen Soleimani from Damascus to Beirut, then to Iraq, he underlined. Further, he said such indictment will surely be a deterrent and disappointing as well. Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force commander Lieutenant General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the acting commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) – known as the Hashd al-Shaabi – separately leaving Baghdad airport in two motorcades.
