Iran’s allies and proxies across the Middle East condemned the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Qods Force, and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, a leader of the Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah. Several groups threatened to attack U.S. forces in the Middle East. “The American military killed them and it will be the one to pay the price,” said Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. “We are equipped with accurate surface-to-surface missiles, and if a decision is made on targeting the U.S. embassy, it will be an easy target for us,” Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba’s deputy security general threatened.
Soleimani was appointed the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps external operations division, the Qods Force, in 1998. He played a lead role in coordinating support to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, the Assad regime in Syria, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and other pro-Iran groups. Soleimani had personal relationships with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah and other militia leaders. The following are reactions to his death from Iran’s allies.
Lebanon
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah
“All of us in our region and in our nation should seek just retribution. What is just retribution? I'd like to act with transparency. We've been through this before, and I don't want to go into details. Someone may suggest – in meetings, over social networks, in Iran, in the press, in the media – that just retribution should be a figure of the same caliber as Qasem Soleimani. Who? The American Chief-of-Staff? The Secretary of Defense? The commander of CENTCOM? There is no figure of the same caliber as Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis. Qasem Soleimani's shoe is worth the heads of Trump and all the American leaders.”
“There is no one on par with Qasem Soleimani or Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, whom we can execute and avenge their blood. In all honesty and transparency, the just retribution is as follows: The American military presence in our region. The American military presence in our region.”
“When the coffins of the American soldiers and officers – people who came here in vertical position and return in horizontal position – start arriving in the United States, Trump and his administration will understand that they have lost the region and will lose the elections as well.”
—Jan. 5, 2020, in a televised speech on Al Manar (translation be MEMRI)
Leader of Hezbollah Parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad
[The response of the Iran-backed] Axis Of Resistance will be decisive… [The United States] made an error.
—Jan. 4, 2020, in interview with al Mayadeen TV
Iraq
Kataib Hezbollah Security Official Abu Ali al Askari
I call for the opening of the door of registration for the lovers of martyrdom, to conduct martyrdom operations [suicide bombings] against the foreign Crusader forces.
—Jan. 3, 2020, in a written statement on Twitter
Asaib Ahl al Haq Militia Commander Qais al Khazali
“All fighters should be on high alert for upcoming battle and great victory… The price for the blood for the martyred commander Abu Mahdi al Muhandis is the complete end to American military presence in Iraq.”
—Jan. 3, 2020, quoted by al Ahd TV channel, according to Reuters
Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba Deputy Secretary General Nasser al Shamari
“We are equipped with accurate surface-to-surface missiles, and if a decision is made on targeting the U.S. embassy, it will be an easy target for us.”
“Washington has done whatever possible to deceive the Iraqi society and to sever the strategic links between Iran and Iraq, but all its attempts have proved futile.”
“Attacking the headquarters of the IPMF was the start of Americans’ battle against the Resistance. We will also strike war against their military presence in the region and strike them wherever possible.”
—Jan. 7, 2020, in an interview with Al Mayadeen TV
Syria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Syria strongly condemns the “treacherous, criminal American aggression” that led to the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani.
—Jan. 3, 2020, according to state news agency SANA
Yemen
Houthi Political Official Mohammed Ali al Houthi
"We condemn this killing and direct and swift reprisals are the answer."
—Jan. 3, 2020, according to Middle East Eye
Houthi Political Bureau
[The killing of Soleimani] was a war crime…Striking the American bases in the region is the only available solution.
The peoples of the region should realize that their security and stability are subject to proceeding with the liberating project until the expulsion of the American occupier.
—Jan. 4, 2020, in a written statement, according to Xinhua Net
Palestinian Territories
Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh
A delegation of senior #Hamas officials led by Ismail Haniyeh who were in #Tehran to attend the funeral ceremony of #QasemSoleimani have met with Gen. Ismail Ghaani, the new commander of #IRGC Quds Force.#Iran #Palestine #Israel pic.twitter.com/BJrH7EBbP8
— MAYSAM BIZÆR میثم بیزر (@m_bizar) January 6, 2020
“[Soleimani] made great sacrifices in order to safeguard Palestine and the resistance… We have come here today to express our sincere and genuine feelings for the dear brother and the martyred commander.”
“We announce that this cruel crime committed by the Americans signifies the criminal spirit that has led to crimes in the holy land of Palestine.”
—Jan. 6, 2020, in a speech at the funeral of Qassim Soleimani
Hamas Statement
[Soleimani played] a prominent role in supporting the Palestinian resistance in various fields.
As Hamas mourns the commander Soleimani and the martyrs of the American raid, it also extends its condolences to the Iraqi people for the martyrdom of a number of their sons as a result of the treacherous American raid…[The US will] bear responsibility for the bloodshed in the region because of its aggressive actions, which are fueling conflicts without any regard for the interests and stability of the peoples.
—Jan. 4, according to the Jerusalem Post
Political Official Ismail Radwan
"We are loyal to those who stood with the resistance and with Palestine and we hold the U.S administration and the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the consequences of this deplorable crime,"
—Jan. 4, 2020, in remarks at a mourning tent for Soleimani, according to Y Net News
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Al Quds Brigades Spokesman Abu Hamzeh
Today, Al-Quds Brigades bids farewell to a jihadi leader who had always instilled terror in the heart of America and the Zionist entity.
—Jan. 4, 2020, in a written statement on Twitter
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Statement
[The killing of Soleimani] reflects cowardly US crimes and bias in favor of Israel.
—Jan. 4, 2020, in a written statement, according to the Jerusalem Post