TEHRAN- The highest-ranking military commander in Iran has praised the Basij (mobilization forces) as a brilliant turning point in the Islamic Revolution’s history and asserted that the movement’s ideology and impact had inspired other Muslim countries in that region.

Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated in a message on Saturday that the Basij has grown to such an impressive extent 44 years after it was founded that its benefits are now extended beyond social services, construction projects, relief aid support, and solving social, cultural, and economic issues.

The general said, “Basij ideology and philosophy have transcended Iran’s borders, as the force has become a dependable bulwark of hope and support for the Muslim nations in the region, especially for the oppressed and resilient Palestinian nation.”

He also applauded the Basij for being the epitome of the revolutionary youth movement and for responsibly addressing the needs of both the Islamic Establishment and the Islamic Revolution.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei saluted the Basij in a message on the occasion of its formation anniversary in November 2020, calling it a major and stellar legacy of the late Islamic Republic founder Imam Khomeini, a symbol of national might, and an example of piety, insight, and endeavor.

The Leader declared in the message that “Basij is the Iranian nation’s great asset and God-given backup.” 

He also cautioned that Iran’s adversaries have always tried to destroy or neutralize the Basij force and advised Basij members to foil enemy conspiracies by relying on God and military readiness.

The paramilitary volunteer organization known as the Basij was founded in 1979 under Imam Khomeini’s command.

The force is made up primarily of young Iranian volunteers who have a strong feeling of loyalty to their religious beliefs and the Islamic beliefs. 

'Israel clearly on losing streak in Gaza War'

Addressing a gathering of Basij forces on Saturday, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, the top military adviser to the Leader, said that the Zionist regime has failed to achieve any of its stated goals after waging a bloody war on the Gaza Strip.

He went on to declare that the Zionist regime’s only accomplishments in the Gaza war were the massacre of 14,000 Palestinians and the injuries of 38,000 more, proving that the Israeli regime was unquestionably losing.

The Iranian commander mocked the Israeli prime minister, who had promised to destroy Hamas and reduce Gaza to ashes, stating that Hamas still exists and that the people of Gaza have bravely resisted the Israeli atrocities.

Major General Safavi emphasized that if Washington had not assumed control of the political and military decisions in the Israeli assault, the Zionist regime would have submitted to a ceasefire far sooner. 

This underscores the U.S.’s rock-ribbed backing for the Israeli regime from the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

A four-day truce between the Israeli regime and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning following protracted discussions and a minimum of twenty-four hours of delay. In return for Palestinian women and children being held in Israeli jails, detainees held in Gaza were freed.

'World stunned by Palestinian power'

According to Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), stones were the Palestinians’ sole weapon in the past, but today they are equipped with tools and might that have astounded all global powers.

Brigadier General Fadavi said that those who help the Islamic Republic in its fight against global oppressors are acting in accordance with their holy responsibility as supporters of the Islamic Revolution in the region.

He said that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm struck Israel so severely that the world’s villains moved swiftly to the occupied regions in order to avert the fall of this despicable dictatorship.

He made the argument that the U.S. and other European nations strongly supported the Zionist regime. 

He also added that the people of Gaza produced grandeur in this battle, and the truce was the goal of Israel and Western countries since they were under pressure both internally and on the battlefield.

IRGC Navy develops new AAMs

On Saturday, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri revealed the development of two new air-launched missiles with the aim of destroying drones and cruise missiles.

He said that the two indigenous air-to-air missiles (AAMs) had a range of 4 and 17 kilometers.

The general stated that the new missiles have already been produced and would be displayed later.

The commander praised the IRGC Navy’s advancements in producing air- and sea-based missiles, stating that the AI-driven missiles can attack targets with accuracy up to 2,000 kilometers away.

A new iteration of the “Fattah” ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead was shown by the IRGC last week.

The glide vehicle’s speed ranges from Mach 5 to 20, contingent upon its configuration and intended use.

Iran’s achievement in designing and producing hypersonic missiles could be the most important news in the missile field in recent years, and the worst news for enemy defense systems, as this missile’s high speed has made it very difficult for anti-missile defense systems to intercept it effectively.

However, speed is not the only important component of hypersonic missiles; more importantly, their trajectory with guidance and control to reach their target and evade enemy defense systems with high maneuverability is crucial. With Iran’s achievement of its desired range in ballistic missiles (2000 kilometers), Iranian manufacturers have focused on two other components: accuracy and power, which have led to improved accuracy of missiles and their guidance and control until they hit their target.

The Fattah missile family (now including the latest member, Fattah) has become the most accurate Iranian missile family due to its “guidance until the end of the trajectory” capability; however, with the production of hypersonic Fattah missiles, these missiles now also benefit from high speed and greater maneuverability - bad news for Americans and Zionists.

The Zionist regime has invested heavily in strengthening its missile defense systems in recent years, some of which have been designed and built to counter Iranian long-range ballistic missiles.