BAGHDAD (Dispatches) -- Iraq’s prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has strongly condemned Israel’s “criminal act” against Iran that killed civilians, scientists and military commanders.
In a statement, Ayatollah Sistani said Israel’s latest aggression “once again proves the dangerous and aggressive nature of this regime.”
He urged the international community to “prevent the continuation of such aggressions by putting pressure on this usurping regime and its supporters.”
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also extended his condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in the strikes and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded.
In Beirut, the secretary-general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement asserted that Iran will “emerge stronger” following a string of “U.S.-backed Israeli assassinations” of its senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
“Iran will emerge stronger, and Israel will come to regret its brutality and recklessness,” Sheikh Naim Qassem said.
Sheikh Qassem described the violence as a “criminal Israeli assault” that was “fully supported by the U.S. administration.”
He said the Israeli regime and its main supporter, the U.S., will certainly come to rue the aggression.
“The criminal Israeli regime and its tyrannical backer, the United States, will reap nothing but disgrace and defeat,” Sheikh Qassem underscored.
Referring to the victims of the aggression, the Hezbollah leader declared, “Their martyrdom will only reinforce Iran’s strength and resolve.”
The resistance leader warned that the Israeli attacks will be followed by “major consequences” for the entire West Asia region.
Qaasem  hailed Tehran for having unexceptionally rendered support to the resistance movements across the region since the victory of the country’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Sheikh Qassem said no measure of aggression on the part of the Israeli regime and the U.S. would ever either alter Iran’s strategic direction or influence its crucial role throughout the region.
“Iran remains a beacon of dignity and resistance and will continue to be a leading force in defending the oppressed across the region and the world.”
In his remarks, the resistance official also condoled with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people over the martyrdom of the victims.
Sheikh Qassem described Ayatollah Khamenei as “our leader and guardian,” and also extended his condolences to “the noble and steadfast” Iranian nation.
The official finally vowed that Hezbollah will stay aligned with Iran amid the atrocities, and back its right to retaliation.