Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Qaani's final shot at Western rumors

 By Mona Hojat Ansari

Quds Force chief undercuts Western media psychological war with appearance at public event

TEHRAN – Impartiality and truthfulness are the cornerstones of responsible journalism, or so we're told. Yet, for the Western media, the blatant bias in favor of Israel and their unwavering commitment to serving the regime's interests, no matter the cost, has never been more obvious. 

From deliberately ignoring the vast majority of Israel's crimes in Gaza to shamelessly spinning the few they can't completely suppress; Western media outlets have become active participants in whitewashing a regime committing unspeakable acts against humanity. This shameful trend, once constrained by a shred of journalistic integrity, has now descended into outright fabrication. Even the principle of avoiding frequent blatant lies – a low bar indeed – has been abandoned in the past year.    

Since October 7, 2023, the internet has been overflowing with false stories about Hamas, Palestinians, Lebanese, and even Iranians. Among these manufactured tales are the grotesque claims of Hamas beheading Israeli babies, bombing the Al-Ahli Arab hospital, and using civilian sites as shields. But even these notorious stories could seem logical in comparison to the sheer absurdity of the ones swirling around in recent weeks regarding the whereabouts and health of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds chief.

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani was first reported to have been killed during Israel’s airstrike on a residential building in southern Beirut, which claimed the life of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyad Hassan Nasrallah on September 27th. The IRGC confirmed that one of its top commanders, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforooshan, was also martyred during the attack. 

After the bodies of the victims of the Israeli assault were recovered and identified, Western media outlets engaged in a new wave of disinformation. They claimed that Qaani had been gravely injured in the attack but managed to survive. This fabrication was then reinforced by the claim that the Quds Force commander returned to Tehran aboard the plane of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who had made a brief trip to Beirut on October 4th. 

When a high-ranking IRGC official finally addressed the rumors surrounding Qaani's health, flatly denying his martyrdom or injury, the Western media machine was forced to invent yet another lie. This time, the fantastical story came from the Middle East Eye, a UK-based news website reportedly funded by the Qatari government. 

An Iraqi journalist, well-known for her hostile stance towards the Resistance, reported on October 10th that “ten sources in Tehran, Beirut, and Baghdad” had told MEE that Qaani was “under guard” and “being questioned” for his involvement in the “intelligence breach” allowing Israel to assassinate Nasrallah. Other outlets took a step further in their outlandish lies, claiming General Qaani had suffered a “heart attack” during interrogation. 

But the commander who had been declared dead, injured, and arrested within a mere two weeks, made a public appearance on Tuesday. Qaani joined his IRGC colleagues and other Iranian officials at the funeral ceremony for General Nilforooshan, looking completely unscathed and at ease. He was captured on film praying quietly and engaging in conversations with fellow attendees, contradicting any claim put forth by Western media in the past days. 

What is Western media doing?

Qaani, like his predecessor, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, is known for maintaining a low profile, rarely appearing in the public eye or engaging with the media. Figures like him are typically only seen at official ceremonies attended by all ranks of Iranian officials. So, the fact that Western media tried to cast doubt on his whereabouts by highlighting his “long absence from public view” was already ridiculous to begin with.  

“I think besides trying to demoralize Resistance forces, Western media, teamed up with Israeli and American spy agencies to help track Qaani and his activities," said Seyyed Reza Sadrolhosseini, a West Asia expert. "Gathering intelligence on Quds commanders is notoriously difficult. To circumvent this, authorities likely used Western media to provoke a reaction from Iran. They hoped that the spread of these fabricated stories would eventually force Qaani to publicly address the rumors, making him easier to track or expose his movements."

The expert warned that such close and frequent collaboration with spy agencies would irreparably damage the credibility of Western media outlets, a process that has already begun. “The public's faith in Western media is rapidly eroding. Once seen as reliable sources of information, outlets like Reuters and the New York Times are increasingly facing scrutiny and skepticism as people question their open willingness to distort the truth. The days of blindly accepting their narratives are waning, as a growing number of individuals seek alternative sources of information like social media.”

Israel delegation faces massive walk out during speech at IPU

Israel delegation faces massive walk out during speech at IPU

TEHRAN, (MNA) – The Israeli delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) faced a massive walkout during their speech on Monday.

A large number of participants at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly chanted 'Free Palestine' and staged a walkout before Israeli MP Dan Illouz began his speech.

According to media, the initiative was put forward the Palestinian delegation.

"We are preparing for many tough battles, as the Palestinian delegation, with the support of various Arab and Muslim policies, will do everything in their power to push for decisions harmful to Israel, utilizing manipulations with delegations from around the world and 'surprises' for the Israeli delegation."

The delegation was led by Likud MK Dan Illouz and he was joined by fellow Likud MK Tsega Melaku and Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern.

Some of the anti-Israel initiatives included downgrading Israel's status within the IPU as well as calls to adopt the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion on Israeli policy in the territories, media reported.

One Belt One Road a bridge to link East to West

Mehr CEO

One Belt One Road a bridge to link East to West

TEHRAN, (MNA) – The CEO of Mehr Media Group said at the 6th Global Media Summit that the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is an opportunity to revive the lost identity and strengthen international cultural and economic cooperation.

Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, CEO of Mehr Media Group (which consists of Mehr News Agency and English-language daily Tehran Times) made the remarks during his address to the 6th World Media Summit underway in Urumqi, China.

Organized by Chinese Xinhua news agency, the global media summit is eyeing innovation, and unity on course toward building a shared future for humanity, according to Xinhua website.

In his speech on Tuesday, Rahmati emphasized the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the countries that are members of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He referred to the historical links between Iran and the Silk Road countries, describing the Chinese initiative as an opportunity to revive the lost identity and strengthen international cooperation.

"Revival of this route is important not only because of its economic benefits but also because it is an opportunity for cultural and human exchanges," Rahmati said, adding that, "Westerners' criticism of the initiative has mostly roots in their concern about a change in the world order in favor of the East."

"Anyway, the 'Belt and Road' project provides a model for human-centered development that focuses on the three elements of economy, culture, and people.

He further stressed the importance of people-centered and cultural cooperation, saying that, "Creating consensus and common understanding among the people of the member countries will strengthen the bases of the [Chinese] project. In the meantime, the role of Asian cultures and civilizational diversity should not be neglected. Chinese philosophy also believes that civilizations enrich each other through equal exchanges."

Elsewhere in his speech, Rahmati pointed to the oppression of the Palestinian people and the importance of defending their ideals, saying that supporting the Palestinian people is not a political and diplomatic issue. He stressed that the Palestinian right to live in peace sans humiliation should be recognized by everyone.

Nicaragua's Ortega sees Zelensky as 'spawn of Hitler'

Nicaragua's Ortega sees Zelensky as 'spawn of Hitler'

TEHRAN, (MNA) – President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega sees Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "the spawn of Hitler" for his ill-fated desire to fight with Russia.

"He is yet another Nazi, a 'spawn of Hitler', who wants to pull NATO into a war with the Russian Federation," he said in his speech, Televised by Canal 6.

According to Ortega, Hitler also believed that his attack on the USSR would be successful, but he underestimated the resilience of the soviet people, according to TASS.

"And so Hitler’s fate was sealed, because the Russian people are heroic and courageous. They heroically resisted, defended themselves and fought until they defeated the Nazis," the Nicaraguan leader underscored.

In September, Ortega expressed his confidence that Russia would defeat what he called fascism in Ukraine.

The rise of Hezbollah’s drone empire: Insights from the Oct.13 attack

 By Shahrokh Saei

TEHRAN- Hezbollah’s drones have become a thorn in the side of Israel, exposing the regime’s Achilles heel amid its aggression against Lebanon.

Israel's susceptibility to drone attacks has come under scrutiny after one of its military bases was struck at the weekend. 

On Sunday, Oct. 13, the Lebanese resistance movement carried out a drone attack against the Golani Brigade’s base. It is an elite Israeli infantry unit near Haifa. The drone penetrated Israeli air defenses undetected killing four soldiers and injuring dozens of others. 

The unmanned aerial vehicle hit the target successfully without triggering Israel’s alert systems. The regime’s troops were attacked without any warning.

Israel’s major headache 

CNN has called the Hezbollah drone strike a “major headache” for Israel despite launching a major bombardment campaign and a ground operation against Lebanon. 

Daniel Sobelman, an international security expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (al-Quds), told CNN that the drone attack shows the resistance movement is still able to strike Israel. 

Orna Mizrahi, a senior research fellow at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, also told the American news channel that such drone attacks are indicative of Israel’s “weakness”. 

She also referred to the strikes carried out by regional resistance groups against Israel, saying, “Every time we find a solution for something, they find another way to attack.”

This is not the first time that Hezbollah’s drones have caught Israel off guard. 

In June, Hezbollah released a nine-minute video filmed by a drone showing Israeli military sites and other strategic locations in and around Haifa. It went undetected by the Israeli army. 

The drone mission humiliated Israel, highlighting its inability to detect and intercept such aircraft. 

Israeli aggression 

The Golani Brigade has been deployed to southern Lebanon as part of Israel’s ground operation there.

Israel launched a massive bombing campaign in Lebanon on September 23 which was followed by a ground incursion into southern Lebanon a week later. 

Israel also assassinated Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on a neighborhood in southern Beirut on September 27. 

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since the regime launched war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.  Hezbollah has hit Israeli military positions in solidarity with Palestinians in the enclave. 

Israel has killed more than 2,300 people in Lebanon since October last year.  

Israel has killed civilians in Lebanon but has failed to make progress during its ground offensive. 

Since the start of the ground operation two weeks ago, more than a dozen Israeli troops have been killed on the battlefield and many more have been injured. 

Hezbollah has not only dealt crushing blows to the Israeli army on the ground but it has also imposed painful costs on the regime through its drone and missile attacks. 

For now, in addition to missile power, Hezbollah’s drone capabilities have opened a new chapter in resistance against Israel. The Sunday’s drone attack could mark the start of Hezbollah’s drone empire potentially keeping Israel in a state of heightened alert indefinitely. 

Deputy SG: Hezbollah is leading the battle to “hurt Israel”

 By Sondoss Al Asaad

BEIRUT - “We are the ones who will seize the raging Zionist beast by its reins and bring it back to its fold,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in an open reference to Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of the Israeli occupation regime.

Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remarks in his third speech since the onset of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

Threatening the US-Israeli warlords, Sheikh Qassem also stressed that “Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa” was a legitimate right for the Palestinians.

He also called on the Zionist colonial settlers, the occupiers of the Palestinian territories, not to believe their leaders because Hezbollah is determined to defend Gaza and Lebanon. Sheikh Qassem insisted there was no way to separate Lebanon from Palestine.

Further, Hezbollah’s deputy chief refuted all fabricated accusations directed at Tehran, emphasizing that the people of Palestine and Lebanon are repelling the American-Zionist expansionist threat thanks to support from Iran. He underscored that the Hezbollah resistance movement, whose establishment was accompanied, supported and pushed by the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini (RA) is now shielded by Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. He reiterated that Hezbollah is an example for every nation that is keen to preserve its sovereignty.

Sheikh Naim Qassem added that Hezbollah is a legitimate resistance to the destructive and exclusionary project that does not comply with or abide by international law.

The “New Middle East” will be shaped by the indigenous peoples of the region who are opposed to the US hegemony, Sheikh Naim Qassem noted.  Therefore, he stated, Washington must automatically stop pushing its colonial proxy “Israel” towards the inevitable abyss.

Noting that political resistance is compatible with military resistance, Hezbollah’s deputy chief said attrition is escalating on the borders and inside the occupied Palestinian territories. These moves, he said, are making the colonial settlers ask: “Are we under the curse of the eighth decade?”

Besides, the deputy chief exposed the vicious endeavors by mainstream Western media and its mercenaries – anti-Resistance thinkers and journalists – that allege Hezbollah has entirely collapsed.  He put brakes on the imperialist wheels, launching a new era of constructive ambiguity. In other words, he triggered an era of unprecedented surprises and adverse shocks by Hezbollah.

The current leader of Hezbollah – until the official announcement of a successor to martyr leader Sayyed Nasrallah – confidently spoke about the Resistance’s fighters and the Resistance’s societal incubator that nurtures its body, the honorable, patient and steadfast people.

Sheikh Qassem confirmed that the US-Israeli adventure will suffer more calamities in the upcoming days, as the elite brigades in the Zionist army miserably failed to exploit the open and unconditional Western support. The uncalculated project to eradicate Hezbollah is pure foolishness and political and military recklessness, he highlighted.

This means that we may expect further operations, ambushes, hybrid combat strategies revealing the might of the apostles of Martyr Sayyed Nasrallah.  Ideologically, the American-Zionist enemy is facing a heroic resistance in southern Lebanon. Apostles strongly believe that their martyrs assist them from Heaven and perpetuate their just cause.

Hezbollah has gone beyond the “support-front” stage and is currently leading a direct war with the US-Israeli enemy from the front edge of the border with Palestine. Sheikh Qassem went on to say that Hezbollah is systematically “hurting the enemy” by targeting deep inside the occupied Palestinian territories.

He asserted nothing would stop the resistance from targeting the hostile strategic positions in the occupied Palestinian territories except for a ceasefire and then inaugurating “indirect” negotiations. After which, he added, the steadfast and victorious Lebanese people will be rewarded with a legendary victory in an “invincible” homeland, which will never be subject to any humiliating conditions.

Quranic manuscripts, Persian calligraphy go on show at Kazan museum

TEHRAN – A collection of cultural offerings including rare books and manuscripts of the Holy Quran and classic Persian literary works has been put on show at the Museum of Islamic Culture in Kazan’s Kremlin, Tatarstan.

The loan exhibition was officially inaugurated on Tuesday in close collaboration with the Ibn Sina Foundation and the Noor International Microfilm Center. According to organizers, it showcases a selection of Islamic book culture created in Iran, Russia, India, and Central Asia.

The items mostly come from the collection of the Ibn Sina Foundation, the Scientific Library of Kazan Federal University (Volga Region), and the Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve.

Among the highlights are several folios and calligraphic works featuring the Quranic verses of Ash-Shams (“The Sun”), which is the 91st surah of the holy Quran.

Quranic manuscripts, Persian calligraphy go on show at Kazan museum

Also presented are masterpieces of Persian poetry such as Firdowsi’s Shahnameh and Nizami’s Khamsa, adorned with illustrations by Kamal ud-Din Behzad, a 15th-century master of Islamic miniature art.

Based in New Delhi, the Noor Microfilming Centre has provided facsimiles of medieval manuscripts. The exhibition features rare Qur’ans from the 10th to the 15th centuries, tafsirs (Quranic commentaries and interpretation), and translations from the collection of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia), and the Astan Quds Razavi Library (Mashhad, Iran).

The exhibition also showcases the legacy of Muslim poets and theologians from Volga Bulgaria, the Golden Horde, the Kazan Khanate, and the Russian Empire from the collection of Kazan Federal University. These include Qissa-i Yusuf (The Story of Yusuf) by Qul Gali, Nahj al-Faradis (The Path to Paradise) by Mahmud al-Sarai, and Nur al-Sudur (The Light of Hearts) by Muhammad Yar.

Quranic manuscripts, Persian calligraphy go on show at Kazan museum

The Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve also presents a 14th-century Central Asian manuscript—a volume of hadiths by al-Bukhari from the library of the Tatar historian and theologian Shigabutdin Marjani.

Kazan is the largest city and capital of Tatarstan, Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka Rivers, covering an area of 425.3 square kilometers, with a population of over 1.3 million.

The exhibition will be running through March 31, 2025.