Iran military officials, resistance leaders hail Sinwar pick as Hamas chief
The appointment of Yahya Sinwar as the new political leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas after the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh has drawn in applause from Iranian military commanders as well as various regional resistance groups, who described his selection as “the best successor to the best predecessor.”
Senior Iranian military commanders extended their congratulations to Sinwar on his appointment, pledging assistance to the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement.
In the latest response, Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Esmail Qaani, in a letter to Sinwar on Friday, praised him as a prominent and distinguished leader, congratulating him on his appointment as the new head of Hamas’s Political Bureau and extending his best wishes to all the heroes of Hamas, Gaza, and the Palestinian people.
In separate messages issued on Thursday, the Iranian commanders wished success for Sinwar, with Iran’s Army Chief Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi saying that the selection of Sinwar shows the resistance front’s firm determination to continue the path followed by Haniyeh in the fight against Israel.
Meanwhile, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said that the appointment soothed the grieving hearts of the faithful and resistance fighters, and “deeply worried the criminal Zionist enemy and its brazen supporters.”
He emphasized, the IRGC “will spare no effort to help you and other resilient fighters.”
Additionally, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said Sinwar is “the most proper choice” to succeed Haniyeh.
On July 31, Israel, with the support of the US, assassinated Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s swearing-in ceremony.
‘Big blow’
In a statement on Wednesday, the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement congratulated Hamas for selecting Sinwar, saying that the success of Hamas in filling the vacancy in the political bureau leadership with such a speed, despite the war against them is a strong message to the Zionist enemy that “Hamas remains strong and cohesive.”
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine affirmed its confidence in the ability of the resistance movement “to overcome the great ordeal represented by the martyrdom of brother Ismail Haniyeh, and to continue his path and the path of all the martyred leaders.”
The Popular Resistance Committees also praised the appointment of Sinwar and wished Hamas success in the fight against Israel under the new leadership.
“The selection of the leader Abu Ibrahim al-Sinwar…is a significant blow to the malicious plans of the Zionist enemy and is part of the punishment and response to the assassination of the leader Abu al-Abd Haniyeh.”
Palestine’s Ahrar Movement said the selection of Sinwar is a message from Hamas that Operation al-Aqsa Storm is a “strategic and sovereign decision for the resistance factions and that we are moving forward to achieve all its goals and objectives, no matter the high costs.”
The media office of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement prayed for Hamas and its fighters in continuing their path until achieving the goals and aspirations of Palestinian people to liberate their land, end the occupation, reclaim all rights, and recover their entire land.