TEHRAN – Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani, commander of the IRGC Quds force, said that Iran has dedicated all his capabilities to support the front of resistance, and emphasized that Hezbollah’s recent battle has once again proved the strength and cohesion of the axis of resistance across the region.
Speaking in an interview in Ilib on Friday, marking the anniversary of Hassan Nasrara’s martialism, General Kaani detailed the role of Hezbollah, Hamas and other resistance movements in the ongoing conflict with the Zionist regime.
Nasrara’s Leadership and Operation Al-Axa Storm
Qaani revealed that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, released from Gaza on October 7, 2023, is a very secret, and even the top leaders of resistance don’t know the timing.
“When the surgery began, Ismail Hannie was on her way to the airport for a trip to Iraq and only learned about it on her return,” he said.
According to the commander, Seid Hassan Nasrara quickly admitted his duty after the surgery began. “Before I spoke to him, he was already acting on his sacred and religious obligations,” Qaani said. “He decided that Hezbollah’s operation would begin on the night when southern Lebanon was the least populated. It’s a sign of his prudence and humanity.”
Psychological Wars and the Pocket Bear Incident
Qaani described Nasrallah as a master of both military and psychological warfare. “During the tragic pager explosion that left thousands dead or wounded, Martian Nasrara stood firm and declared that such a tragedy would not bearable unless our society was inspired by Imam Hussein,” he said.
“By two weeks of silence from the incident, he created panic within the Zionist regime. His calm and strategic restraint proved his deep understanding,” Kaani added.
Nasrara’s assassination and Israel’s war crimes
The QUDS force commander accused Israel of committing war crimes in assassinating Nasrara. “In the bombing where martyrs sang Hassan, chemicals were used along with heavy explosives,” he said. “Despite all precautions, the nature of these materials led to his martialism.”
Calling Nasrala “the unshakable mountain of Lebanon,” Kaani said his leadership and faith remained the source of strength in the Lebanese state and the front of resistance.
Qaani said the recent war between Hezbollah and the Zionist regime was “the most difficult in Israel’s history.” Nevertheless, Hezbollah’s fighters maintained discipline and control on the battlefield.
“In the 2006 war, Israel needed about seven minutes to hit the target after detecting it. In this war, that gap was reduced to less than seven seconds,” he said. “Even so, because autonomous field units operate independently, Hezbollah’s distributed structures were able to survive and fight effectively under the heaviest artillery fire.”
He said Israel’s deepest advance towards Lebanese territory was about four kilometres, and Hezbollah’s resistance forced him to demand a ceasefire in Tel Aviv. “If the Zionist regime could beat Hezbollah, it would not have stopped the war,” Kaani argued.
He added that just days before the ceasefire, Hezbollah fired over 350 missiles in one day. “That amount of fire proved that resistance was not weakened.
International silence and endurance of resistance
Qaani has accused the US and the international community of hypocrisy and inaction. “After the war, no new UN resolution was adopted. Only resolution 1701 from the 33-day war is in effect, and while Hezbollah respects it, the other side continues to violate its commitment,” he said.
He stressed that Hezbollah’s perseverance and strategic restraint prevented escalation. “This revolutionary patience will ultimately bear fruit,” he said.
The legacy of Soleimani and Nasrara
In conclusion, Qaani emphasized the deep bond between Martyr Qassem Soleimani and Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, describing their friendship as “one of the most extraordinary of our time.”
“When talking about the resistance aspects of today, the martian Soleimani mark is unmistakable,” he said. “Hezbollah’s strength and endurance are the result of Nasrara’s leadership and Soleimani’s guidance.”
Qaani emphasized that Hezbollah will remain at the heart of Lebanon’s security and will continue to stand firmly. “The power of Hezbollah endures, and those who stand with resistance become victors,” he concluded.