Speaking at a gathering of Basijists in the capital Tehran, he called the martyrs killed in the Israeli-imposed war against Iran the people who have left their mark on the country’s history.
General Pakpour also commemorated the names and memories of martyrs during the eight years of the Sacred Defense (1980-1988, when Iraq imposed a war against Iran) and the 12-day war.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Guards pointed to the leading role of Basij forces in rescue and relief missions and crises, stressing that Basij forces are on the scene in all situations, including floods, earthquakes, enemy attacks, etc.
Looking at the performance of the Basij during the 12-day war, Major General Pakpour considered it a clear example of the spontaneous and wise presence of the people’s army to protect the security of the country.
The commander stressed that during the war, the people widely cooperated with the Basij forces in creating peace and security in the country.
On June 13, while Washington and Tehran were in the process of nuclear negotiations, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked invasion of Iran. The Israeli attack sparked a 12-day war that left at least 1,064 people dead in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.
The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities in a serious violation of international law.
In response, Iranian forces targeted strategic locations throughout the occupied territories, as well as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in West Asia.
On June 24, Iran successfully thwarted the invasion through successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the United States.
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