Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus held on Thursday a ceremony in commemoration of Qasem Soleimani and his comrades’ martyrdom, at al-Assad National Library.
President Bashar al-Assad, in a speech delivered by Special Adviser at the Republic’s Presidency said:
“On the second anniversary of the martyrdom of al-Quds Force Commander, Qasem Soleimani and his comrade in the struggle against international terrorism and oppression, Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis, we have to stop a little and ask why did a state, in the volume of the United States and its striking military force, decide to target a person who has considered himself a soldier in the fight against terrorism, who has dedicated all military capabilities, human force and equipment to defeat forces of terrorism and extremism, if not he has posed threat to the plots and existence of the US and its western and local allies, whether in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen or in the occupied Palestine.
Soleimani had understood the core strategy which is hostile to the axis of resistance and he has worked, through each mission assumed by him, to undermine the rules of this strategy wherever they were, and as long as this strategy has called for division and sedition among followers of the multiple religions and doctrines that form the historic essence of Arab civilization with its diversity and coexistence, Soleimani and his comrade have sought to consolidate the spirit of unity of the resistance peoples from Iraq to Syria , Lebanon, Palestine and to Yemen.
And as long as the hostile strategy, that targets all of us, has concentrated on its subordinates, of governments and rulers, and on subordination and obedience to orders coming from overseas, so commander Soleimani has sought to adopt a strategy from the place and time in accordance with the requirements of the battle, guided by a conscience and an eager soul to complete the mission or obtain martyrdom.
If we recall the targets launched by the US, which were carried out by its ally, the occupation entity in our region, we find that the main reason behind these targets is fearing of the spread of the method which poses threat to the essence of their political, military, culture or ethic identity, or of all these points together.
In light of that analysis, we have to be loyal to the details of that method and approach and work for it to be continued, particularly to consolidate relations among the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Palestine, as boosting integration and contacts inside this axis will form a solid ground that increases capability and strength for its people to face internal, regional and international challenges.”
For his part, Iranian Ambassador in Damascus, Mehdi Sobhani, said that the name of the resistance axis has been closely linked and mixed with the name of Qasem Soleimani, adding “Iran has been able to confront the US hegemony and policies.”
During the ceremony, a documentary film that revolves around Soleimani’s life was screened.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)