IRGC chief: Stage set for Israel’s collapse in future war

Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami says the stage is set for the “collapse” of Israel in a next war initiated by a mistake on the part of the occupying regime.

Salami made the comments in a meeting with Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, in Tehran on Saturday.

The IRGC chief said Hezbollah is not just a military force, but it enjoys a high status among all the Lebanese people as the nation’s main supporter.

The resistance group brings about honor to Lebanon and guarantees the security of its people, he said. "Since Hezbollah was born and raised in the field of jihad (endeavor for the sake of God), the Zionist enemy has been well aware of the scope and depth of its power."

Salami said the power of the resistance front is increasing by the day while that of the enemy is on the decline. 

On Wednesday, Israel struck an area in southern Lebanon in response to alleged rocket fire towards the occupied lands.

Two days later, Hezbollah units hit “open fields” near Israeli positions, using “dozens” of 122mm-caliber rockets. Israeli media said that Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket attack sent settlers in the occupied Golan Heights and Galilee scrambling to shelters.

Hezbollah retaliates against Israeli bombing with rocket barrage

Hezbollah says it has fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli positions in occupied Shebaa Farms in retaliation for Israel

Salami said, “Hezbollah’s recent epic move to stop the Zionist army showed the fake regime's new prime minister that equations are set elsewhere and that nothing has changed.”

“The Zionists have clearly realized that if Hezbollah's engine is turned on, they will have to flee the occupied territories.”

Salami said the rise in the exodus of Zionists from the occupied territories has turned into a psychological crisis for the regime. 

"This situation will lead to the collapse of the Zionist regime," he said. "Now, the stage is set for such collapse. The conditions on the ground coupled with a blunder will be enough to turn the next war into the war of their death."

The IRGC chief stressed the continued support of the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian nation for the Lebanese resistance and hailed the role played by top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in strengthening the resistance front. 

Sheikh Qassem, for his part, appreciated the backing of the Iranian nation, especially the IRGC, for Lebanon’s Islamic resistance.

“Hezbollah and the Lebanese people owe their achievements and success to the support of the Islamic Republic and the sacrifices of the martyrs and resistance fighters, especially Martyr Soleimani, who considered himself a Hezbollah member,” he said.

Sheikh Qassem said Hezbollah's popularity in Lebanon has caused “despair and concern” among the enemies.

“Despite some problems and the efforts of the enemies to impose sanctions and exert pressure on Lebanon and destroy the security of its people, we have been able to maintain our position.”

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