Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani’s office condemns Israeli strikes on Iran as ‘a crime’

NAJAF — The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani on Friday condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, calling the assault a “crime” and urging the international community to take action to prevent further escalation.

“The crime committed by the Zionist occupying entity at dawn on Friday, which resulted in the martyrdom of a group of scientists, military leaders, and civilians from among the Iranian people—including women and children—as well as the targeting of several scientific institutions and centers in the country, has once again demonstrated the aggressive and dangerous nature of this usurping entity,” the statement said.

The condemnation followed a series of Israeli strikes launched early Friday under Operation Rising Lion, targeting military and nuclear-related sites in Iran. Among those reported killed were senior Iranian officials, including Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. Additional strikes were reported later in the day in cities including Shiraz.

The ayatollah’s office extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished a “speedy recovery for the wounded.” It called on world powers to prevent similar attacks from recurring.

“We strongly condemn this criminal act and call on the international community to pressure this aggressor entity and its protectors to prevent the recurrence of such attacks,” the statement said.

The message concluded with a prayer for “continued glory and elevation for the dear Iranian people,” and added, “There is no power and no strength except with God.”

Al-Sistani is widely regarded as Iraq’s top Shia religious authority and a leading marja for millions of Shia Muslims around the world.