Iran envoy: Gen. Soleimani’s assassination will lead to final US defeat in region

Torkabadi made the remarks at a ceremony held in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of Gen. Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, former deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, and their companions outside Baghdad International Airport last January on direct order of the now-outgoing US President Donald Trump.

The general has earned reputation as the region’s most effective and popular counter-terrorism official due, among other things, to his leading Iran’s military advisory support for Iraq and Syria’s struggle against Daesh. The support enabled the Arab countries to defeat the US-backed Takfiri terrorist outfit in late 2017.

The assassination came while the general was visiting the Iraqi capital on an official invitation extended by Iraq’s prime minister.

Following the atrocity, the Iraqi parliament passed a law mandating withdrawal of all US-led forces from the country’s soil.

The Iranian envoy reminded that the assassination had “violated all international laws and norms” — something that has been also underlined by Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

“We will continue our efforts to avenge the martyr,” he said.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned soon after the atrocity about a pending “harsh revenge.”

The IRGC fired volleys of ballistic missiles at a US military base in Iraq five days after the assassinations. According to the US Defense Department, more than 110 American forces suffered “traumatic brain injuries” during the counterstrike. The IRGC, however, says Washington uses the term to mask the number of the Americans, who perished as a result of the retaliation.

Iran has also issued an arrest warrant and asked the Interpol for help in detaining Trump and several other US military and political leaders behind the targeted killings.

Recently, Ayatollah Khamenei said revenge for the Iranian general was certain and would be exacted at the right time.

Torkabadi asserted that “Gen. Soleimani will be remembered in history as a fighter for justice.”

Iranian officials, including military top brass, have stressed that the Islamic Republic would continue to pursue the martyr’s path.

Tokrabadi underlined the same imperative, noting, “We will continue to fight until total victory of Syrian people against aggressors,” and that “Iran will continue to support Palestinians’ struggle for freedom.”

Assad: Syrians determined to pursue Soleimani’s path

At the beginning of the ceremony, a televised message sent by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad was read out to the audience.

In his message, the Syrian leader said the US assassination of General Soleimani has made Syrians determined to pursue his path in fighting terrorism. 

Assad noted that even after his martyrdom, General Soleimani will continue to live in the hearts of Syrian people. 

The Syrian president also highlighted the Iranian commander’s efforts in defending Syria against terrorists and enemies. 

During the ceremony, Bouthaina Shaaban, an advisor to Bashar al-Assad, addressed the audience, saying that the assassination of General Soleimani and senior Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis created a new alliance in the region.

She added that the two commanders exposed Zionist plots in the region.

Bouthaina further stated that martyrdom of Gen. Soleimani and Muhandis led to creation of a new alliance in the region.

She noted that those who perpetrated this heinous crime will not be able to stop the path and extinguish “the torch of resistance.”