BAGHDAD (Dispatches) -- The prime minister of Iraq has commended Iran’s late top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, saying he stood by the Arab country during its most challenging times.
Muhammed Shia’ al-Sudani made the remarks during a speech at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S. assassination of General Soleimani and his Iraqi companion Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis here Sunday.
Sudani said the ceremony serves as a “significant opportunity” to honor the legacy of the two remarkable figures, stressing that General Soleimani and al-Muhandis played an important role in leading the fight against the Daesh terrorist group.
He further noted that General Soleimani and al-Muhandis stood on all fronts to defend Iraq during critical times, inspired by the fatwa of the supreme religious authority that saved the Arab country and the region.
Sudani further said Iraq is fully prepared and ready to deter any aggression, regardless of its source, with all security forces capable of safeguarding the nation’s security.
“The government has prioritized fortifying and supporting the PMU, similar to other security forces,” he said, stressing that the PMU played a crucial role in establishing security and peace, paving the way for Baghdad to launch service and development projects, as well as essential administrative and economic reforms.
“This occasion reminds us of the importance of preserving the foundations of the state that were built through the sacrifices of our martyrs. We reaffirm the strength of our state and remain steadfast in our commitment to building it and serving our great people, undeterred by any attempts to weaken our resolve,” Sudani said.
General Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and their companions were assassinated in a U.S. drone strike authorized by then president Donald Trump near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020.
Both commanders were highly revered across West Asia because of their key role in fighting Daesh in Iraq and Syria.