Had it not been for martyr Soleimani’s valuable efforts, ISIS would have spread its rule of terror throughout a wider part of the region. The late General’s anti-terror drive was also beneficial for India’s national interests. His efforts were key to the rescue of Indian nationals, including a group of 11 Indian nurses, trapped by ISIS terrorists in Iraq

The year 2020 had just begun. While people were engaged in the New Year’s celebrations, on January 3, the sad news of the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the great commander of anti-terrorism forces, shocked the world. US President Donald Trump’s admission of this act of terror added to the global bewilderment.

Now, ahead of the first anniversary of the dastardly assassination of martyr General Soleimani and Arabaeen or Chehellom (40 days following martyrdom) of martyr Professor Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, people in Iran and around the world are holding commemoration ceremonies to pay tribute to these late Iranian icons.

Respected both by friends and foes as a major military tactician, General Soleimani was the world’s most talented military figure in the field of counter-terrorism.

For many people worldwide, General Qasem Soleimani was an anti-terror hero, who played a key role in defeating Daesh (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. However, US President Donald Trump ordered his assassination in an air strike during his official visit to Baghdad and while being received by the Iraqi authorities at the International Baghdad Airport. This cowardly terror act was the biggest gift from the US to takfiri terrorism and its supporters.

General Soleimani had played a major role in defending the region against Daesh’s terror campaign. As foreign-backed takfiri outfits raised their heads in 2014, the late commander emerged as a key strategist and ingenious commander leading Iranian military advisers assisting Syrian and Iraqi troops in battles against terrorists.

He assisted the Baghdad Government in operations to retake the strategic oil-rich city of Tikrit from Daesh in 2015. General Soleimani was on the front line of anti-terrorism operations, from Iraq’s Mosul to Syria’s Aleppo. The General also took personal command of the battle against takfiri militants in the Syrian city of Bukamal, located in Dayr al-Zawr Province, in November 2017.

Finally, in November 2017, he declared the end of Daesh’s territorial rule in a letter addressed to the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The late General’s anti-terror drive was also beneficial for India’s national interests. His efforts were key to the rescue of Indian nationals, including a group of 11 Indian nurses, trapped by Daesh in Iraq. In fact, from General Soleimani’s point of view, terrorism recognises no religion or specific country and it may take victims from all corners of the world, irrespective of their religion, faith or nationality. For this great man, delivering relief and rescue to all people of the world by fighting against terrorism and extending support to victims of terror was a basic principle.

Martyr Soleimani had a humble and kind face in his encounter and interactions not only with military officers but also with the common people and that is why he was so popular with the people of region and many memorial functions were spontaneously erected to observe his martyrdom after his sudden demise. Inside Iran, in his farewell funeral, millions of people in different cities poured to the streets to attend this ceremony.

Martyr Professor Mohsen Fakhrizadeh had also an outstanding role in different peaceful scientific projects in Iran, the most recent example of which is the development of the first indigenous Covid-19 test kit and vaccine, which is a great contribution to Iran’s national efforts in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic and production of its vaccine at a time when Iran is under the inhumane, unjust and unilaterally imposed sanctions by the United States.

These dastardly acts are committed against Iran which itself has so far been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism in order to establish and contribute to  peace and stability in the region and the world and such acts are a flagrant violation of international rules and humanitarian principles. The US’ criminal move to target General Soleimani has once again proved to the people of the world who is really backing the terrorists and that the US definition of terrorism is defined by its self-interests and is rooted on double standards.

It goes without saying that had it not been for martyr Soleimani’s valuable efforts, Daesh would have spread its rule of terror throughout a wider part of the region. Curbing of Daesh also prevented the takfiri terrorists from causing terror in other parts of the world, including South Asia. By giving a severe blow to the foundation of Daesh, more recruitments for this terrorist group from other countries were also prevented.

To honour the memory of martyr General Soleimani and pay tribute to all scarifying their lives for the peace and tranquility in the region and beyond, the Islamic Republic of Iran proposes the following: designation of January 3 as “World Counter-Terrorism Day” by the international community and dedicating an annual International Martyr Soleimani Award to the heroes of fighting with terror.

Last but not least, it is hoped that 2021 may be a year of peace, tranquility, health, prosperity and development for the people of our region and the entire world.

(The writer is the Ambassador of Iran to India)