Hezbollah pays tribute to Khamenei, hailing his 'martyrdom' and denouncing 'height of crime'

BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem paid tribute to the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, in a statement published Sunday, a day after the assassination of the Iranian supreme leader in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Tehran.

“We extend our condolences and congratulations to the Master of the Age, Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), to the Islamic nation, to the free people of the world, and to the great Iranian people, for the great and blessed martyrdom of our chief and guide, Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei (may his soul be sanctified), who obtained the highest distinction of honor, loyalty, resistance and devotion on the path of God: the medal of martyrdom on the path of the lord of martyrs, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him),” the statement read.

“As I pay homage to this divine leader and celestial guide with a heart heavy with pain and wounds, and a soul filled with sadness and grief, I also feel great pride and immense honor. The leader of the nation, its guide and protector, has joined in the mercy and pleasure of his Lord during the holiest month and the best of days, the month of Ramadan. He led the struggle and resistance against the tyrants and oppressors, the Americans and Israelis — enemies of religion and humanity — thus attaining the ultimate victory and the highest honor, ending his noble and blessed life with the distinction of divine martyrdom,” it continued.

He described the strike by U.S. and Israeli aircraft on the residence of the leader of the Islamic Republic as “the height of crime,” saying Hezbollah “will fulfill its duty.”

He concluded: “At Hezbollah and within the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, together with all who support this genuine Khomeinist path, we will continue on this way with determination, steadfastness and a spirit of sacrifice, without weakness or exhaustion, refusing humiliation. We will fulfill our duty to confront the aggression, confident in God’s help and support (…) And whatever the sacrifices, we will not leave the field of honor, resistance and confrontation with American tyranny and Zionist crime to defend our land, our dignity and our independent choices.”