Addressing a group of high-ranking Iranian military commanders and figures in the capital Tehran on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian forces have sincerely and successfully managed to present a good image of their abilities and authority after punishing Israel, exhibited a commendable picture of the Iranian nation, and proved the emergence of Iranians' willpower in the international arena.
The Leader congratulated the advent of the National Army Day, which is celebrated annually on April 18, and the founding of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on April 22, 1979, stressing that the latest developments have created a sense of grandeur and magnificence about Islamic Iran in the eyes of the world and international observers.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the high number of missiles and drones launched during Operation True Promise against targets inside the Israeli-occupied territories is a secondary and peripheral matter, stressing that the main issue is the manifestation of the willpower of the Iranian nation and armed forces across the globe, the proof of which is the Tel Aviv regime’s distress and discomfort.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also appreciated the well-planned measures of the Iranian Armed forces, highlighting the significance of reducing the costs while reaping considerable gains in any scenario. “This is what the Armed Forces have done in recent incidents. They did well,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei praised the efforts and activities of the IRGC, the Iranian Army, and police forces, calling upon the armed forces to continue their efforts and move to face hostilities and enemies by relying on innovative initiatives.
“We should not stop even for a moment because stoppage means backpedaling. Therefore, innovation in the production of weapons and methods, as well as knowledge of the enemy's strategies must always be on the agenda,” the Leader stated.
During the meeting, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, presented a report on the recent Operation True Promise as well as the combat readiness of various divisions of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched extensive missile and drone strikes last week on the Israeli-occupied territories. The series of retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied lands.
It was in retaliation for the Israeli attack on April 1 against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, located next to the embassy building in Damascus’s Mezzeh district.
The airstrike killed two senior Iranian military personnel who were on an advisory mission to Syria as well as five of their accompanying officers.