Hezbollah’s Iranian identity: Ceremony of operatives in southern with

conspicuous personality cult of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei

July 28, 2019

Overview

Since its inception, the Lebanese Hezbollah has been inculcating the ideology of the Iranian Islamic Revolution in the Shiites in Lebanon, establishing the personality cult of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, and emphasizing that Hezbollah is totally subject to the Supreme Leader (see appendices A, C and D). On the other hand, time and again senior Iranian leaders have stressed Hezbollah’s complete loyalty to Iran and its commitment to the Iranian leadership (see Appendix B). Cultivating Khamenei’s personality cult is evidence that Hezbollah regards Iran and its leader the highest source of authority for its strategy, including its military moves against .

An up-to-date example of the personality cult of Ali Khamenei can be found in the opening ceremony of Hezbollah’s summer activity in , attended by operatives of Hezbollah’s military and civilian infrastructures. At the end of the ceremony, the participants sang the “Song of Pledge of Allegiance” to the ruling Islamic jurist (wali al-Faqih1 ) Imam Ali Khamenei. The song is also called “We Love Loyalty.” The contents first and foremost express commitment and loyalty to Iranian Leader Khamenei (“We love loyalty, loudly do we pray for Ali Khamenei”). Another motif in the song is solidarity between Hezbollah and other countries where Iran handles proxies among the Shiite communities. The common denominator between Hezbollah and the Shiite communities mentioned in the song (Bahrain, Yemen, and Iraq) is loyalty to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

1 Wilayat al-Faqih is Imam Khomeini’s concept that the regime should be entrusted in the hands of the Islamic jurist. According to this concept, the jurist has the authority to be the arbiter of all matters of state.

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The audience in the hall raises the photo of Ali Khamenei during the “Song of the Pledge of Allegiance” (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019)

Iranian Leader Khamenei’s personality cult at the Hezbollah ceremony in southern Lebanon

On June 28, 2019, Hezbollah held the opening ceremony of its Executive Council’s summer activity. The ceremony, entitled “Our Generations are the Message of Victory,” took place in the hussainiya (a Shiite social/religious club of sorts) of the city of Nabatieh. It was also attended by the chairman of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, Sayyid Hashem Safi al-din. Hezbollah operatives from the military wing and political institutions took part in the ceremony, as well as Shiite clerics. The venue was decorated with posters honoring Hezbollah’s shahids, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei. During the event, a film about the forthcoming activity of Hezbollah’s civilian infrastructure in the summer of 2019 was screened (Facebook page of the Rassed network2, June 28, 2019).

The audience attending the ceremony partly consisted of members of the institutions and organizations comprising the extensive civilian infrastructure established by Hezbollah among the Shiite population in Lebanon. Representatives of some of the institutions and organizations were in uniform. Thus, for example, representatives of the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts,3 the Islamic Health Organization,4 the Sports Mobilization5 and more could be

2 The page was shut down by Facebook around July 20, 2019 (Twitter account of the Rassed network, July 20, 2019). 3 See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from July 11, 2019, “The Imam al-Mahdi Scouts Association: Hezbollah’s youth movement which indoctrinates youth with Iranian radical Shiite Islam and serves as a source of youngsters who join Hezbollah” 4 See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from July 24, 2019, (Hebrew), “The Islamic Health Organization: A Hezbollah institution providing health services to Hezbollah operatives and the Shiite population in general as a means for gaining influence and creating a Shiite mini-state within Lebanon” (the document is currently under translation). 5 See the ITIC's Information Bulletin from July 29, 2019, “Sports in the service of terrorism: Hezbollah’s Sports Mobilization conducts extensive sports activity, using it for indoctrinating and preparing youth to join the ranks of Hezbollah”

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seen among the audience (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Alongside the representatives of the civilian institutions, the event was also attended by operatives of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and a group of Shiite clerics. Photos from the ceremony

Chairman of the Executive Council Sayyid Hashem Safi al-Din delivers a speech at the ceremony. The logo designed for the event is visible in the background: A silhouette of a boy, a student and a man wearing a cap decorated with a red band (a sort of a desired “life cycle” for a Hezbollah supporter, according to which Hezbollah’s civilian infrastructure has been created: from infancy, through studies, to military or civilian activity in the ranks of Hezbollah) (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019)

Right: Clerics attending the ceremony (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Left: Representatives of the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts who attended the ceremony (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Pictures of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyid Abbas Mussawi are visible in the background.

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Right: A group of people wearing uniforms attending the ceremony. Apparently, these are operatives of the military wing (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Left: Representatives of the Islamic Health Organization who attended the ceremony (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Pictures of Sheikh Ghareb Harb and Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah’s most senior shahids, are prominently displayed in the background.

Right: Representatives of the Sports Mobilization who attended the ceremony (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Left: Apparently, members of Hezbollah’s ballot committees in the 2018 elections for the Lebanese Parliament (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Imad Mughniyeh are seen in the background.

Right: Representatives of various unidentified Hezbollah institutions (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). Left: Representatives of the “Lebanese Companies of Resistance to the Israeli Occupation”6 who attended the ceremony (Facebook page of the Rassed network, June 28, 2019). A poster with the Hezbollah emblem and the picture of Sayyid Abbas Mussawi, Nasrallah’s predecessor who met his death in a targeted killing, are visible in the background.

6 A voluntary military unit established in the late 1990s upon Hezbollah’s initiation. Intended for Lebanese of all sects, its establishment was designed to create an impression that fighting against Israel is national, all-Lebanese, and not only Shiite. In practice, the initiation proved ineffective and Hezbollah was and remained an organization of Shiite sectarian nature.

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Song of praise for Ali Khamenei, sung by Hezbollah operatives in the ceremony

Following is the ITIC's translation of the song (as posted on the YouTube channel of the Union of Rijal Allah (i.e., the Men of Allah) on January 7, 2018):

This is the entire story we love Wilayah7 Loudly do we pray for Ali Khamenei

Sayyidi [i.e., Khamenei] son of Al-Hussain8 we are the sons of Khomeini Loudly do we express our loyalty to Ali Khamenei

Nasrallah, for us you will always be a guide and a secretary-general Victory is there, no doubt, and we shall eliminate the infidels Heaven and earth will testify that Khamenei is a role model Loudly do we express our loyalty to Ali Khamenei

Sayyidi [i.e., Khamenei] son of Muhammad these souls testify We shall wear our sacrifice uniform for Ali Khamenei Bahrain, standing fast whose men are like lions Cry “We do not need sleep!” smashing all shackles The same call is heard, it is a Karbala resoluteness!9 Loudly do we express our loyalty to Ali Khamenei

Yemen, the land of challenge your supporters are calling, Mahdi10 The Wahhabi (i.e., Saudis) will not pass for I shall stop him This assertive and proud land will be soaked with blood

7 Wilayah may be translated as either loyalty or guardianship. 8 The third Imam, a key figure in Shiite Islam – the son of Ali (the Prophet’s cousin) and Fatima (the Prophet’s daughter). 9 The Battle of Karbala, waged in 680 CE between supporters of Imam Hussain and the army of the Umayyad Caliphate, is a formative event in Shiite Islam. Many values which Shiite fighters still regard as a model for fighting are reflected in this battle. These values are, first and foremost – fighting until death and sacrificing the body and soul for a sublime cause. In the song’s text, “Karbala resoluteness” means willingness to die as shahids for the cause (the context is incitement of Shiites in Bahrain to revolt against the regime). 10 Imam al-Mahdi, one of the titles of the Twelfth Imam, a key figure in Shiite Islam.

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Loudly do we express our loyalty to Ali Khamenei

We, supporters of the Aqila11 only saw a wonderful thing12 Promise from the lord of heavens to Ali Khamenei

Land of the Euphrates and Tigris its [Popular] Mobilization13 is a Hussayni line Led a clear victory against a cursed organization14 A sky-high aspiration from the blood of shahids Loudly do we express our loyalty to Ali Khamenei

Two main motifs stand out in the song:

Personality cult of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the father of Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini. Apart from the personality cult, Imam Khomeini's conception of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist was also inculcated. The main target audiences of this personality cult, indeed attending the ceremony, are the younger generation (school and university students), Hezbollah's military and civilian operatives, and the Shiite population in general. The personality cult was intended to entrench Hezbollah's control over the Shiite population and strengthen the population's solidarity with Iran, and at the same time create new generations of Hezbollah operatives inspired with Khomeini's ideology, who will take part in the military campaign against Israel.

Solidarity with the Shiites in Iran and with Shiites in other countries in the Middle East where Iran handles proxies (Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain). This motif of pan-Shiite solidarity stands out in Hezbollah's indoctrination since late 2018 and comes into expression in various events, for instance: a donation campaign for child victims of the war in Yemen (Facebook page of the Al-Qard al-Hasan Association, a Hezbollah quasi-bank, November 30, 2018); donation campaign for victims of the floods in Iran (Twitter account of the Al-Imdad Association, April 8, 2019; Facebook page of Al- Mumahidun Resistance Media, April 9, 2019); and sending volunteers to assist the

11 One of the titles of Sayyida Zaynab, sister of Imam Hussain. 12 Based on a quote by Sayyida Zaynab after the Battle of Karbala. When asked, “How do you regard what Allah has done to your brother Hussain and to his family members?” she replied, “I have only seen a wonderful thing. This is a group that Allah has sentenced to death and now they rest in peace.” 13 Reference to the Popular Mobilization, the umbrella framework of the Shiite militias in Iraq. 14 Reference to the Islamic State (ISIS).

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victims of the floods in Iran (Sputnik, April 20, 2019); memorial ceremonies for Shiites killed in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (Ra msey Twitter account, May 2019) etc.

Members of the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts in the village of Sreifa in southern Lebanon at a memorial ceremony for Shiite shahids in Saudi Arabia (Ra msey Twitter account, May 2019)

Advertising the possibility of donating to the children of Yemen through account No. 8142301 in the Al-Qard al-Hasan Association, a Hezbollah quasi-bank (Facebook page of the Al-Qard al- Hasan Association, November 30, 2018)

Appendices

For further examples of Ali Khamenei's personality cult and Hezbollah's utter subordination to the Iranian regime, see the following four appendices:

Appendix A: Statements by Hezbollah's senior officials

Appendix B: Statements by senior officials of the Iranian regime

Appendix C: Books and booklets distributed in Lebanon by Hezbollah

Appendix D: Examples of material seized by the IDF in the Second Lebanon War

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Appendix A

Statements of Hezbollah's senior officials

Right: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and Hezbollah's Secretary-General Nasrallah (Tasnim, November 12, 2014). Left: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Nasrallah, and the IRGC's Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani (Iranian Supreme Leader's website, August 11, 2016)

On April 16, 2007, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah's deputy, granted an interview to the Iranian Al-Kawthar TV Channel. In the interview, the sheikh admitted that Hezbollah does not set its own policy. He noted that Hezbollah is subordinate to the Iranian leadership and receives religious guidance from it in all matters pertaining to the fighting against Israel. As an example, he noted that firing rockets or carrying out a suicide bombing attack require the Iranian leadership's religious approval. During the interview, when describing Hezbollah's source of authority, Sheikh Naim Qassem often used the term Wali al-Faqih (the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) relating to Imam Khomeini and his successor Ali Khamenei.

Sheikh Naim Qassem during an interview to the Iranian Al-Kawthar TV Channel: Hezbollah receives religious instructions in all matters pertaining to fighting against Israel from “Wali al- Faqih" (the ruling Islamic Jurist, referring to Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei) (Ehud Ya'ari's report on Israeli TV Channel 2, April 16, 2007).

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Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah's deputy, granted an interview to the Lebanese newspaper Nahar ash-Shabab on July 30, 2009. Inter alia, the Sheikh was asked about the relations between the Iranian leadership and Hezbollah. He explained that Hezbollah is a Shiite “religious-political party,” and therefore it must obtain religious and political legitimacy from a leadership which has the authority to grant Hezbollah such legitimacy. According to Qassem, Hezbollah as a party regards Imam Khomeini as the ruling Islamic jurist who gives it legitimacy. His successor is Imam Khamenei, “who sets general guidelines for us which free us from guilt and give us legitimacy.”

Later in the interview, Sheikh Naim Qassem gave an example as to the meaning of the religious guidance which Hezbollah must receive from Khamenei: if, for instance, Khamenei instructs that fighting against Israel is a religious obligation, then “whoever is killed in the fighting against Israel becomes a shahid, to the best of our understanding.” However, in case the Leader Khamenei rules that this war is forbidden, “then the killed one will go to hell because he was not allowed to embark on that war.” Sheikh Naim Qassem stresses that Hezbollah cannot launch an operation against Israel without religious justification from the Muslim cleric who rules Iran. However, he explains, the ruling Islamic jurist is not supposed to enter into details as to the manner of implementing the decision (the timing, weapons required etc.) and these remain in the hands of Hezbollah.

On March 12, 2018, the Iranian conservative website Farda News published the text of a speech delivered by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah at a meeting of Iranians residing in Lebanon. In his speech, Nasrallah announced that his organization was absolutely loyal to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and that this commitment overrules its commitment to the (Lebanese) constitution. In his speech, Nasrallah made clear that Hezbollah was not only committed to the explicit instructions of the Iranian leader, but also to his “suggestions and opinions.” According to Nasrallah, when Hezbollah’s Central Council discusses a certain issue, it refrains from any action if there is a possibility that Khamenei will not be pleased with it.

In order to demonstrate the extent of his loyalty to Khamenei, Nasrallah said that after former Egyptian President Mohamad Mursi was overthrown in the 2013 coup, he (Nasrallah) expressed his joy about it because he was not dissatisfied with the policy of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood Movement. When Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei learned about that, he wasn’t pleased with Nasrallah’s response as he believed that it

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wasn’t right to feel joy at the defeat of the Muslim Brotherhood even though they had adopted a wrong policy. When Nasrallah heard how Khamenei reacted, he was sorry for his own reaction. When he met Khamenei several months later, he apologized to him and asked for forgiveness.

Nasrallah further said that Hezbollah’s becoming a “world power” was made possible thanks to its loyalty to the Iranian leader. He noted that Hezbollah’s loyalty to the “Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist” is even stronger than that of many of the Iranians themselves. He pointed out that in spite of the internal differences of opinions in Iran, all the Iranian institutions and factions have assisted Hezbollah throughout the years. He added, saying that Iran is consulting Hezbollah on regional issues and assists the organization financially, with weapons and with other means, but does not direct Hezbollah how to act.

Nasrallah noted that Hezbollah is not afraid to thank Iran publicly for the latter’s support of the organization and make statements about the bond between Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic. Hezbollah is proud to place itself at the service of the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic and is ready to sacrifice itself for them. Nasrallah claimed that were it not for Iran, the Shiites in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq would have been eliminated by ISIS.15

15 Unusually, Nasrallah’s speech was published neither on the Lebanese nor on the Arab media. Even in Iran, the speech was published on only a few news websites. Twenty-four hours after the publication (March 13, 2018), Hezbollah published an official denial of the report in Farda News. According to the denial which was published on the Al-Mayadeen network, there is no basis for what was claimed to be said by Nasrallah in his supposed meeting with the Iranian community in Lebanon. The denial was published after harsh criticism in Lebanon following Nasrallah’s statement that “the rule of the Muslim cleric” is above the Lebanese constitution. A short while afterwards, the Farda News website removed the report, published a clarification that the source of the speech was “unreliable” and that the publication of the report was a mistake of the website correspondent, and apologized to its readers for the publication.

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Appendix B

Statements of Iranian senior officials

On July 25, 2009, Ali Akbar Velayati, Khamenei's advisor, granted an interview to the Al- Jazeera Channel. In the interview he admits that Iran provides full and comprehensive support to Hezbollah and Hamas, and that if it weren’t for this support, the two would not have “won” the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead: “We fully supported Hezbollah and bore the responsibility also in the attack in the Gaza Strip [i.e., Operation Cast Lead] by our support of Hamas. I frankly say that Iran provided full and comprehensive support to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah feels that it owes the [Iranian] leadership. Of course, the leadership of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah is extraordinary. He always said that had it not been for the Iranian support, they would not have won [the Second Lebanon War]. Part of the resistance of the Palestinian people in Gaza is due to the Iranian support and assistance.

On June 2, 2012, Sayyid Yahya Rahim Safavi, former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Khamenei’s security advisor, gave an interview to the Iranian PressTV channel. In the interview, he also addresses Hezbollah’s involvement in a possible confrontation between Iran and Israel. Safavi notes that Hezbollah possesses thousands of rockets, and if Israel wishes to hit Iran, then it is very likely that Hezbollah will act against it. Safavi continues and says that he regards [Hezbollah leader] Hassan Nasrallah a “soldier of the leader” Khamenei. He adds that Iran also has the ability to strike Israel and its long-range missiles are capable of that: “There is no spot in the Zionist entity that is not within the range of our missiles” (PressTV, June 2, 2012). In 2008, Safavi made a similar statement: “…Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah regards himself as a soldier of the Iranian leader and Hezbollah members see the brave women and men of Iran as role models (Fars, November 16, 2008).

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Sayyid Yahya Rahim Safavi during a speech in which he presents Nasrallah as a “soldier” of Khamenei. Pictures of Khomeini and Khamenei are seen in the background (Fars News Agency, November 16, 2008).

Rahim Safavi, Khamenei’s security advisor, noted in an interview to the Iranian Alam TV Channel on November 23, 2011: “There is no need to direct the intensity of the Iranian ballistic missiles at Israel; The Katyusha rockets of our friends in Hezbollah are sufficient to destroy Israeli cities worth billions of dollars. Israel knows that if it starts a war it will be attacked from the Lebanese front, the Palestinian front, and the Iranian front. We have no restriction on the missiles’ quantity and range. The range of our missiles covers the entire occupied Palestine and there is no spot which is not covered by the range of Iranian missiles” (Alam Channel, November 23, 2011).

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Appendix C

Books and booklets distributed in Lebanon by Hezbollah

Book entitled “Women and Family Book entitled “Imam Khamenei: in Imam Khamenei’s Thought.” Leader and Source of Authority.” issued in 2017 by the Al-Ma'aref Issued in 2014 by the Al-Ma'aref Association, the book describes Association, the book includes Khomeini’s view of women’s senior clerics’ recognition of status (website of the Al-Ma'aref Khamenei as a source of religious Association). The Al-Ma'aref authority (website of the Al- Association is a Shiite cultural Ma'aref Association). association run by Hezbollah.

Book entitled “Speech of the Book entitled “The Book and I.” Religious Scholar 2013.” Issued in 2015 by the Al-Ma'aref Association, Issued in 2013 by the Al-Ma'aref

the book includes a collection of Association, the book includes

Khamenei’s speeches in 2013 selected quotes by Khamenei (website of the Al-Ma'aref about books and reading (website Association). of the Al-Ma'aref Association).

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Book entitled “Establishment of Book entitled “Imam Khamenei’s Islamic Civilization.” Issued in View on Coping with the Soft War.” 2015 by the Al-Ma'aref Association, Issued in 2011 by the Al-Ma'aref the book deals with the Association, the book reviews establishment of Islamic Khamenei’s view on psychological civilization as perceived by warfare and how to cope with it Khamenei (website of the Al- (website of the Al-Ma'aref Ma'aref Association). Association).

Booklet entitled “My Leader,” During the Second Lebanon War, referring to Iranian Leader Ali the IDF seized four copies of a Khamenei. The booklet, which was Hezbollah booklet entitled “Jihad” seized by the IDF in the village of in Maroun al-Ras. The booklet, , was issued by Hezbollah’s issued in 2004 by the Imam scout movement (Imam al-Mahdi Khomeini Cultural Center in Beirut, Scouts). The leader Khamenei is analyzes the meaning of jihad on portrayed as a figure and a role the basis of the worldview of Ali model for youth and as an example Khamenei, who stresses the of a dedicated jihad fighter who revolutionary message of jihad and contributed immensely to the portrays it as a principal pillar of Islamic Revolution in Iran. the Islamic Revolution.

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Cover page of the book “The Elite Cover page of the booklet “The and the Crucial Moments.” The United States is the Source of book, authored by Ali Khamenei, Terrorism” (a photo of Ali was seized by the IDF in the village Khamenei appears on the right). of Aynata. Issued by Hezbollah’s The picture shows American and publishing house, the book deals Israeli flags on fire. Underneath with Khamenei's ideology. Special there is a picture of Palestinians emphasis is placed on the concept crying, with Jerusalem’s Dome of of jihad. the Rock in the background.

Text of a speech by Ali Khamenei Text of a speech by Ali Khamenei (no date) on the occasion of the (March 2001). In his speech, month of Muharram (the first Khamenei attacks the United month of the Islamic calendar). States, speaks about the rule of The speech emphasizes self-

the Muslim cleric, and discusses sacrifice for the sake of Allah the values of the Islamic (Shahada) and the importance of Revolution. the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

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Appendix D

Examples of material seized by the IDF in the Second Lebanon War

Posters with pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the father of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khomeini are displayed in facilities used by Hezbollah operatives in the villages of (left) and Shayhin (right). Underneath the posters, on the right, there is a large poster with the inscription “Al-Wilayah” (i.e., the “Guardianship”, the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, which is a principal pillar in Khomeini's ideology).

The page for April 2006 in a Hezbollah calendar. The picture of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appears on top, to the left. The text in the center, in large letters, reads “The Leader’s Day” (which falls in April).

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Right: The cover page of the booklet “Revisiting the Path of Eloquence,” seized by the IDF in Kafr Kila, southern Lebanon (the picture of Khamenei appears on the top left). The booklet consists of three lectures by Khamenei. Left: The book’s back cover, with a list of selected books by Khamenei which were issued and distributed in Lebanon. The booklet was originally written in Farsi and was translated into Arabic in the city of Qom, the center of the religious leadership in Iran.

The Hezbollah emblem Leaflet entitled “Speech of the Imam and Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei, may Allah grant him long life, regarding the recent events.” Right: The cover page. Left: Photo of the leaflet, including the last page with the Hezbollah emblem. The leaflet, probably published in 2003, was seized by the IDF in the village of Rajmin. In the speech, Khamenei incited against the United States and accused it of seeking to dominate the world.

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