Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his condolences following the killing of top Hezbollah commander Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in an Israeli attack in Lebanon.

Hezbollah announced on Wednesday the martyrdom of Sayyed Safieddine in an Israeli airstrike that took place days ago. Safieddine, a key figure in the Lebanese Resistance, was killed alongside several of his fellow fighters, in what the Resistance condemned as a "criminal and aggressive Zionist airstrike."

In a heartfelt statement, Hezbollah paid tribute to Sayyed Safieddine, describing him as a "great leader and esteemed martyr on the path to al-Quds." The statement emphasized that he was martyred content and patient, accepting his fate as a martyr.

In a Wednesday statement, Pezeshkian said that Sayyed Safieddine dedicated his life to defending the oppressed in Palestine and Lebanon and strengthening the resistance. 

Related News

Al Mayadeen breaks down Hezbollah's Merkava massacre in south Lebanon

'Israel' deliberately attacked UNIFIL, spokesperson says: Exclusive

The president further said that Sayyed Safieddine left behind a " brilliant legacy of struggle and resistance" that will remain illuminated.

Major General Hossein Salami, the head commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also expressed condolences on Wednesday, expressing that events in West Asia, notably in Lebanon and Palestine, demonstrate that Western powers are fully set on "sacrificing humanity and resistance" to sustain the Zionist system.

The IRGC chief noted that these aspirations will be futile in the face of "warriors" which are trained by faith "through their selflessness, sacrifices, and unparalleled historical heroism," citing that the end of the Israeli occupation will come soon.

Safieddine's death is a significant loss for Hezbollah, with the latter comparing his relationship with martyred Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to that of al-Abbas and Imam Hussein. Al-Abbas was Imam Hussein's stepbrother, and he was martyred while attempting to procure water during what is known as the battle of Karbala, when the entire family of Imam Hussein was under siege by the army of Yazid bin Mu'awiyah, who was waging an unjust war against them that did not discriminate between child and soldier, much like the Israelis are doing.

Sayyed Safieddine was praised as Sayyed Nasrallah's loyal brother, supporter, and the bearer of his banner. "He was his brother, his right hand, his trusted companion in hardships, and his trustee in times of difficulty," the statement read, likening him to the revered figures of early Islamic history who defended their faith.

Throughout his life, Sayyed Safieddine dedicated his efforts to serving Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance, and its community. For many years, he led the Executive Council with responsibility and expertise, overseeing the organization's institutions and operational units across various fields. He remained close to the fighters on the ground and maintained a deep connection with the public, especially the families of martyrs, the statement added. His dedication was honored with his martyrdom, "joining the luminous convoy of the martyrs of Karbala."