Leader: Iran's military action against Israel legal and legitimate
TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told worshippers in Tehran on Friday that every nation, including the Palestinians and the Lebanese, has the right to defend against the aggressors, noting the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year was "completely a right decision".
The statements by the Leader came exactly a week after the Israel regime killed Lebanese Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian military advisor in Lebanon Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan in a massive airstrike on southern Beirut.
The remarks by the Leader also came three days after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired about 200 missiles at Israeli military sites and spy centers in response to the killing of the Hezbollah leader, the top military advisor and the July 31 assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Referring to the Israeli malicious moves in the region which have started since October last year, the Leader said, "The enemy of the Iranian nation is the same enemy of the Palestinian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Egyptian, Syrian, and Yemeni nations."
He suggested that the Muslim nations should jointly take a "special" step against the Zionist regime.
Any harm to Israel will serve humanity
The Leader went on to say that Iran's military action against Israel on Tuesday night was "completely legal and legitimate", suggesting Iran "neither hurries nor hesitations" in taking action against the aggressor.
"Based on Islam's defense decrees, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and international law the action of the Armed Forces of Iran in punishing the 'bloodthirsty' Zionist regime was completely legal and legitimate," the Leader noted.
Any harm to Israel by "anybody or any organization" is a service to the entire region and also "humanity", the Leader pointed out.
Al-Aqsa Storm Operation was legitimate
Ayatollah Khamenei also told worshippers that the military operation against Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, codenamed the Al-Aqsa Storm, was a "legitimate" move.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also lauded Iran's two military operations against Israel over the recent months. The operations were codenamed "True Promise I" and "True Promise II".
The two operations proved that Iran can counter the Zionist regime whenever necessary, the Leader pointed out.
Operation True Promise I was conducted after Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 and killed a high-ranking IRGC commander and his deputy. In retaliation, two weeks later Iran launched around 300 hundred drones and missiles at the occupied territories.
The Leader also predicted that the Zionist regime of Israel "will finally be wiped off the earth and God willing we will do this."
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's spirit will inspire Muslims forever
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is no longer among us, but his spirit will inspire Muslims forever."
In a part of his speech to worshippers, the Leader also spoke in Arabic, saying Israel is a "malign, rootless, artificial and unstable" regime that is barely kept alive with American support, and God willing its life will not last long.
The Zionist criminal gang has concluded Hamas and Hezbollah cannot be defeated
"Today, the Zionist criminal gang has also concluded that they will never win (the fight) against Hamas and Hezbollah," the Leader asserted.
Also, the Axis of Resistance will not back down in the face of these mass killings by the Israeli regime and the "Resistance will emerge victorious" and Iran will help realize this goal alongside the Axis of Resistance, the Leader noted.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran will powerfully and resiliently perform any duty in this regard. We will neither hesitate in our duty nor make a hurry," Ayatollah Khamenei asserted.