Iran Speaker In Lebanon
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to “supporting” Lebanon. He did that in a press conference held in Beirut on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The Iran Speaker in Lebanon said, “I’m carrying a message from the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) for the Lebanese people with assurances that, in these difficult conditions, the Islamic Republic of Iran shall stand with Lebanon’s nation. And the government. And the resistance (Hezbollah) in all areas.”. Qalibaf also highlighted Iran’s readiness to assist those displaced and affected by the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. That he said was “of course contingent on coordination with the Lebanese government”.
Iran’s Support To Hezbollah
Qalibaf spoke to the media after he visited one of the sites of the Israeli strikes that hit central Beirut. The strikes hit the Lebanese capital on Thursday (October 10). The strikes reportedly killed 22 people and wounded over 100. Iran’s state-owned network Press TV said, “Qalibaf was reportedly invited by his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri.The Iranian parliament speaker met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. And also visited Beirut’s southern neighborhood of Dahieh. The area has been under intense Israeli strikes over the past week.
Khamenei’s Message
On his arrival he stressed he had come to convey a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader. Qalibaf, Press TV said “piloted the flight to Beirut himself amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon”. The Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed more than 2,000 people. That includes Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and several top leaders. The Iranian Speaker said he had “mentioned in my meeting with (Prime Minister Najib) Mekati that the Iranian people are prepared to send aid. He added that it would be “under the supervision of the Lebanese government for the injured and those displaced by the “. Qalibaf pointed out that this could happen if the Lebanese government sets up an air corridor for Beirut”.
India And Israel
Anat Bernstein-Reich, Chairperson, Israel-Asia Chambers of Commerce, CEO of the BDO Israel-India Investment Banking group and a ‘Friend of India’ Awardee, 2020 spoke to StratNews Global a few months back. In that interview, she pointed out, “Like Israel supported India in the Kargil war and in many other operations, in times of need, India helps us.”
Israel-Iran Conflict
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant gave Iran a strong warning about his country’s response on Wednesday.“Our strike will be powerful, precise, and above all – surprising. They will not understand what happened and how it happened,” Gallant said. In fact as Vikram Sood, former chief of India’s R&AW told StratNews Global on The Gist, there are reasons why Israel is so successful in its intelligence operations.
Tehran To Beirut To Geneva
Qalibaf , Press TV reports iis to move onto Switzerland. He is scheduled to attend the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva between October 13-17. It’s unknown if he will pilot himself there too!
(With inputs from Reuters and Press TV)
