Lebanon’s Hezbollah condemns terror attack on IRGC forces

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has strongly denounced a deadly terrorist attack on a group of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces in southeastern Iran, accusing the US, the Israeli regime and their regional allies of nurturing the Takfiri elements behind the Wednesday attack.

News ID: 443509

Date: 14 February 2019 - 12:07

RNA - Hezbollah said in a statement the attack that killed 27 IRGC members and wounded 13 others portrayed the true image of the organized terrorism led by the US government, which encourages other countries to follow suit.

“Intimidated by the Iranian nation’s huge turnout in the [Monday] rallies marking the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, these criminal groups sought to send a bloody message” by carrying out the suicide attack, the statement added.

“These crimes will not weaken the Iranian nation, and will rather increase their power and motivation to continue the path of progress and prosperity,” it added.

The Lebanese movement also pointed to the simultaneity of the terrorist attack and an anti-Iran conference held by the US in Warsaw, Poland, describing it as a sign of the US government’s harmony with criminals and murderers seeking to destabilize Iran and harm its security.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had noted that it is not coincidental that terrorists have attacked the IRGC on the same day that the anti-Iran summit organized by the United States kicked off in Poland.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Zarif raised suspicion about the deadly attack's possible links to what he described as the "circus" in Warsaw.

"Is it no coincidence that Iran is hit by terror on the very day that #WarsawCircus begins? Especially when cohorts of same terrorists cheer it from Warsaw streets & support it with twitter bots? US seems to always make the same wrong choices, but expect different results," he wrote.

‘Attack masterminded by foreign spy services’

In a message, Iran’s First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri said the crime has been masterminded and implemented by the spy services of hegemonic powers and their evil hirelings.

“[The attack] will not only fail to undermine the nation’s determination to defend the Islamic Revolution, but also will strengthen the national resolve for a relentless fight against terrorism,” he added.

Jahangiri also immediately ordered the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province to identify and punish those behind the crime by using all the resources available.

In one of the first international reactions to the attack, Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Faisal condemned the attack “in the strongest terms” and offered “deepest sympathies” to the families of the victims of the “heinous” crime.

Shocked and grieved to hear about the suicide attack on IRGC bus near Zahidan today, in which many lives were lost. Deepest sympathies with the families of those who have suffered in this heinous attack of terror. Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms all acts of terror.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) February 13, 2019

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry also condemned the “terrorist attack”, expressed solidarity with the Iranian nation and government, and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

Also in a tweet, the Polish Foreign Ministry said the country “condemns terrorism in all its forms”, and that its reaction to the attack on Iranian forces would be no different.

The IRGC personnel were traveling between the cities of Zahedan and Khash, in Sistan and Baluchestan province on Wednesday, when their bus was targeted in a car bomb attack.

The IRGC's Qods Headquarters said in a statement that an explosives-laden car rammed into the bus, which was taking the personnel back to their homes.

The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing.

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