Operation al-Aqsa Flood is a purely Palestinian act that was wholly planned and executed solely by Palestinians, Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami said on Thursday.

Al-Aqsa Flood was carried out independently, and no foreign power had any influence on it, the Iranian commander insisted during the funeral procession of martyred IRGC senior commander Seyyed Razi Mousavi.

IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami during the funeral procession of martyred IRGC commander Razi Musavi: Al-Aqsa Flood is an entirely Palestinian operation, independent and distant from our vengeance for the blood of martyr Qasem Soleimani. Our revenge still stands, and we… https://t.co/Lv8W6YVm83

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 28, 2023

Seyyed Razi Mousavi was martyred in an Israeli airstrike on Syria's Damascus on Monday.

Mousavi was one of the oldest IRGC commanders in Syria and he was close to the martyred commander of the IRGC's elite Quds Force, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. 

Al-Aqsa Flood 'fruit of Palestinian struggle'

The operation was carried out "separately from Iran's retaliation for Martyr Qassem Soleimani, which is still there for the taking and with many options on the table in that regard," Salami underlined. "Iran fearlessly claims responsibility for all the operations it carried out."

"Al-Aqsa Flood is the fruit of the Palestinian struggle and a response to the occupation and its hostile actions against al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian people," the Iranian top commander stressed.

According to the IRGC chief, "The fronts of Resistance have a lot in common, but every axis has its freedom of action," giving the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement as an example. "Ansar Allah is an independent movement, and Tehran does not interfere in its decisions; its decision-making process is decided by its leadership, just as that the Resistance in Iraq."

He also gave Lebanon's Hezbollah Resistance movement as an example. "Though it is linked to the Axis of Resistance, it makes its own decisions based on the interests of the Palestinian people."

"Every party to the Axis of Resistance works based on its national component and interests, and what brings us together is Islamic Resistance," Salami added.

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"We will continue to support the Palestinian people until our very last breath," he said. "The occupation is now paying the price of its aggression, and it is in complete collapse and utter defeat, for neither the Resistance nor the people will allow for the continuation of this aggression."

Martyr Razi: A pillar in the plight of Resistance

Talking about Martyr Razi Mousavi, Salami underlined that his comrade was "the main pillar of Resistance in the region, as the fruits of his labor are today visible in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine."

"Martyr Razi spent his life in the struggle of Resistance and sacrifices, and he was a companion of Resistance fighter martyr Qassem Soleimani," he added. "The desperation and defeat of the enemy are due to his struggle [on the path of liberation]."

The Israeli occupation, Salami said, "knew martyr Mousavi very well - perhaps more than us - because it received several heavy blows from him [...] It also knows martyr Mousavi's influence on the Resistance Front that is confronting it and the United States."

"We will not stand idle regarding the killing and martyrdom of our compatriots; our revenge will be stern and severe, and it will be nothing short of putting an end to the Israeli entity," the Iranian commander stressed.

We will not stay silent in the face of the targeting and loss of our people. Our retaliation will be serious and severe, aiming for nothing less than the elimination of the Zionist entity.

- IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami during the funeral procession of martyred IRGC… https://t.co/Ojf1ueX1dn

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 28, 2023

Mousavi exerted exemplary efforts in the fight against ISIS in Syria during his lengthy participation in combatting terrorism throughout the region.

Mousavi assassination sign of frustration

Commenting on Mousavi's assassination, the IRGC underlined that "there is no doubt that the Israeli occupation entity will pay the price for this crime."

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi mourned Mousavi, vowing that the Israeli occupation would pay the price for its crime.

Raisi issued later in the day a statement extending his condolences to the Islamic Republic and its people, as well as Mousavi's comrades in the IRGC.

The Iranian President said the assassination of the top commander was a sign of frustration and weakness from the Israeli occupation, underlining once again that the Israeli occupation would "definitely pay a price for its crime."

In a related context, an Israeli official suggested that the Israeli occupation forces are preparing for an Iranian response to the killing of Mousavi.

According to the Israeli official, Israeli intel prompted the occupation forces to be on alert and expect a response from Iran after it was found that "Israel" was behind the assassination of Mousavi in Syria.

"The Israeli army is preparing for an Iranian response that might entail missile strikes from Syria and Lebanon," the official said.