IRGC: Hezbollah and AoR Have Full Right to Retaliate for Sayyed Abu Ali
Tehran affirms the full right of Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance to retaliate, calling the killing a sign of Israeli weakness, not strength.
Lebanon, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has strongly condemned the Israeli assassination of senior Hezbollah military commander Haitham Ali al-Tabatabai, asserting that the crime has only strengthened the Resistance and exposed Israel’s growing strategic desperation.
In a statement issued Monday, the IRGC declared that the killing of al-Tabatabai — known as Sayyed Abu Ali — is “not a demonstration of power, but a clear indication of the enemy’s weakness and helplessness in the face of the will of the peoples of the region and the Axis of Resistance.”
The IRGC emphasized that Hezbollah and the entire Axis of Resistance hold the legitimate right to respond: “Without a doubt, Hezbollah and the Resistance hold the right to avenge the martyr, and at the appropriate time, a crushing response awaits the terrorist aggressor.”
Tehran also criticized the ongoing silence of the international community and human rights organizations regarding the US-backed Zionist genocide in Gaza and the wider region, denouncing the absence of accountability despite escalating crimes.
Hezbollah Confirms Martyrdom of Senior Commander
Hezbollah officially announced the martyrdom of Haitham Ali al-Tabatabai following an Israeli airstrike that struck a residential building in Haret Hreik, in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The Sunday afternoon strike targeted the fourth and fifth floors of a civilian apartment block on al-Areed Street. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, the assault killed five people and wounded 28 others.
In its statement, Hezbollah mourned the loss of a distinguished military commander and praised al-Tabatabai’s lifetime of steadfast dedication to the Resistance in Lebanon and his key role in defending the country from Israeli aggression.
The movement said the martyr had “joined his brethren after a long wait to meet God Almighty,” noting that his path was marked by “jihad, sincerity, and steadfastness.”
A Founding Architect of Hezbollah’s Military Structure
Haitham Ali al-Tabatabai was widely regarded as one of the foundational leaders of Hezbollah’s military formation. His contributions were central to the organization’s early development and its evolution into a disciplined, resilient, and capable force.
“He never tired or faltered in defending his land and people,” Hezbollah said.
“Since the inception of the Resistance, he laid the groundwork for a movement that remains strong, dignified, and capable of protecting the homeland and achieving victories.”
A Crime That Strengthens the Resistance
The IRGC’s message underscores the strategic miscalculation behind Israel’s assassination campaign: rather than weakening Hezbollah, such actions deepen the unity and determination of the Axis of Resistance.
With Tehran signaling that retaliation is not only justified but inevitable, the region braces for what may follow — as the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai becomes yet another turning point in the ongoing confrontation with the Israeli occupation. (PW)