Killing Hezbollah commanders will not defeat group, says Iran’s Khamenei
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Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blamed Washington for the escalation in Lebanon.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DUBAI – Killing Hezbollah commanders will not bring the group to its knees, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Sept 25, after Israel hit senior figures
“The organisational strength and human resources of Hezbollah is very strong and will not be critically hit by the killing of a senior commander, even if that is clearly a loss,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Israel’s new offensive against Hezbollah has killed 569 people since Sept 23, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad.
The deadliest attack on Lebanon in nearly two decades comes after almost a year of ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza
The “Palestinian and Lebanese resistance will have the final victory”, Ayatollah Khamenei said, accusing Israel of killing civilians because it was unable to defeat its foes.
Iran has been Hezbollah’s ally since the Lebanese armed group’s establishment in 1982.
Khamenei blamed Washington for the escalation in Lebanon, which follows attacks last week that blew up pagers and handheld radios distributed by Hezbollah.
Despite assertions by Washington that it did not know the Israeli plans in advance, “the US both knows and interferes”, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that President Joe Biden’s administration “needs a victory for the Zionist regime” before a presidential election in November. REUTERS
