Iran’s supreme chief has vowed retaliation for West Jerusalem’s incursion into Lebanon and siege of Gaza
The shock assault on Israel launched by Hamas final yr was a “logical and authorized” step in the direction of defeating the “malicious and cowardly” Zionist regime, Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated.
On Friday, in his first public sermon in almost 5 years, Khamenei defended the actions towards Israel by the ‘axis of resistance’, which incorporates the Lebanese-based Hezbollah and Palestinian group Hamas.
Monday marks one yr because the begin of Israel’s army operation in Gaza, which got here in response to Hamas’ shock assault in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, by which round 1,100 individuals have been killed and greater than 200 individuals have been taken hostage. Israel’s marketing campaign within the enclave, following years of a de-facto blockade of Gaza, has resulted within the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Well being Ministry stated earlier this week.
Tensions between Israel and neighboring Muslim international locations have soared through the Gaza operation, with each Iran and Hezbollah supporting Hamas and Palestine. Earlier this month, the battle entered a brand new stage as Israel launched a floor operation in Lebanon. In retaliation, Iran launched an enormous missile assault on Israel this week.
Khamenei stated in his sermon that the Palestinians, like “each individuals,” have “the best to defend their land, their residence, their nation, and their pursuits towards aggressors,” and this “logic is supported by worldwide legislation.” He added that “those that assist” the Palestinians and help them are merely “doing their responsibility.”
“That is the rule of Islam, the rule of motive, and worldwide and international logic. The Palestinians are defending their land; their protection is respectable, and serving to them can also be logical and authorized,” he acknowledged.
He defended Iran’s latest missile assault on Israel, saying it was “the minimal punishment for the usurping and bloodthirsty Zionist regime… whose solely achievement has been to bomb properties, colleges, hospitals and civilian gathering facilities” in Gaza.
Khamenei went on to say that Iran “will carry out any responsibility required” to see Israel defeated, claiming that West Jerusalem has solely managed to “survive” for therefore lengthy as a result of help of its allies within the West.
“This regime acts like rabid wolves and raging canine of America within the area. This malicious and cowardly entity has barely stored itself afloat because of America’s help, and it’ll not final lengthy,” he stated.
Khamenei pressured that the principle downside within the Center East is overseas interference, as “the international locations of the area are able to establishing safety and peace” if left alone. He criticized America’s involvement and help for West Jerusalem, saying the US has by no means wished peace within the Center East, however has as an alternative been pursuing the objective “of turning Israel right into a software to grab all of the pure sources of the area and make investments them in main international conflicts.”
