Hujjat al-Islam Ali Saeedi, a representative of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has in an article, weighed in on the defeat of the ISIL
terrorist group and related developments. The full text of the opinion piece by
Saeedi, the Leader’s representative to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC),
follows.
However, the movement’s 33-day attack managed to foil the Americans’ plot. Had
they not been defeated, their next targets would have been Syria, Iraq and Iran.
Hezbollah thwarted their dangerous scheme at the outset. The next move was
attacking Gaza on two occasions. Then they plotted the unrest in Syria and Iraq
through the formation of an alliance comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar and Turkey. Some countries also contributed to the conflict
indirectly, but the few mentioned above were the key contributors. In that war,
the Americans broke apart several armies. The Al Saud rulers dealt the heaviest
blow to Islamic states. The armies of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, etc. fell
apart. Saudi Arabia and its allies implemented Washington’s schemes. Of course,
Turkey and Qatar withdrew from that circle later on.
That war not only inflicted losses on armies, but had huge costs as well. The
conflict also led to great human losses, both military and civilian, in
countries.
At this juncture, the Americans are provoking Saudi Arabia. Today, Saudi Crown
Prince Mohammad bin Salman is regarded as a dangerous element. He has upset
Saudi Arabia’s structure. Three elements were at play in Saudi Arabia. First,
six thousand members of the royal family who were together; second, the
religious fabric of the society and the Wahhabi current; and third, the tribal
fabric. What is more, bin Salman arrested several members of the royal family.
In fact, he has broken with tradition and is upsetting the three currents. And
it is not clear what plot the US is hatching for Saudi Arabia.
The Americans are making provocations, and looks like Saudi Arabia is going to
commit suicide. Trump says the US should milk Saudi Arabia, and he sold weapons
to Saudi rulers during his trip to the country. Now, Riyadh has depots full of
weapons which lie useless. Saudi Arabia is also a hub for breeding and exporting
Takfiri terrorists.
Today, Iran plays a key role in countering US plans in the region thanks to the
prudent leadership of the Leader, which emanates from his precise understanding
of the enemy’s schemes as well as organization of potentialities together with
his leadership and guidance. Today, many offer compliments when they see the
situation.
The second point was the mobilization of regional potentialities with Ayatollah
Khamenei’s prudence, something which was very important. Today, Pakistani,
Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese forces are closely intertwined,
serving as a prelude to the formation of a global Basij of Islam. Arba’een, too,
is an issue which should be properly analyzed. Last year, mourners from 60
countries attended the Arba’een march. Today, they had come from 90 countries,
and this is very important. All these issues are organized and the mourners grow
in number every year despite insecurity.
The third point is leading these great potentialities, which is in line with the
projected objective, i.e., the global mobilization of Islam.
The fourth point was the determination of the commander of the arena and the
management of the combat zone. The Leader determined who must go into the
battlefield and be directly present there. General Soleimani was even sometimes
ahead of troops in the front line.
General Soleimani was on the scene. He went to reconnoitre the area in plain
clothes. Then he returned and said, "I saw the news [on the developments in the
field] is false.” Major General Soori also paid homage to General Soleimani.
All in all, the United States’ biggest and most complicated scheme in the Middle
East to eliminate Hezbollah, force Palestine into submission, secure domination
over Syria and Iraq, and create insecurity in Iran ended in failure.