Al-Maliki issues statement of ‘condolences’ for killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

BAGHDAD— Nouri Al-Maliki, the leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, issued a new statement on Friday remembering the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, describing him as a “devoted son of the Islamic movement” and a “cornerstone of the global Islamic renaissance.”

Full statement from Nouri Al-Maliki:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Once again, we extend our condolences to our brothers in Hezbollah, our esteemed religious authorities, and the entire nation on the martyrdom of the brother, the mujahid, and exceptional leader, Mr. Hassan Nasrallah. We also express our condolences to ourselves, as the martyred leader was a devoted son of the Islamic movement since his youth and a cornerstone of the global Islamic renaissance that unites us. He was a dear brother, a generous friend, a strong supporter, and a loyal ally. Our communication with him never ceased, whether during the days of opposition against the Baath regime or after its fall. His good spirit and love will remain with us, as will his achievements, victories, and path for as long as we live.

We also proudly recall the honorable historical stances of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance in support of Iraq, its people, and its forces under the direct orders of the martyred leader Hassan Nasrallah, particularly during the fight against the waves of terrorism led by the extremist group ISIS from 2014 to 2016. In those years, the blood of its fighters mixed with the blood of their Iraqi brothers.

The assassination of Mr. Nasrallah is part of a series of elimination crimes committed by global arrogance, its allies, and its agents over the past five decades. These crimes target our leaders and men, as well as our organizational, social, and political capabilities. We do not differentiate between the crimes of the Baathists, Zionists, global arrogance, certain Arab regimes, or extremist and sectarian terrorist organizations; they all stem from the same source, share a common goal, and operate along the same trajectory.

Despite the repeated acts of targeting, assassination, and terrorism, the tree of the Islamic movement, its resistance, and its supporters has remained strong and resilient, growing more robust with every fallen leader or wounded fighter. The blood of martyrs inspires the nation to rise again at every turn. The Islamic movements in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, and Bahrain are shining examples of the triumph of blood over the sword. In Iraq, they assassinated the leader of the Islamic movement, the martyred Imam Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr, yet the movement continued by the grace of his blood. Before him, many leaders were killed, such as the martyrs Abdul Sahib Dakhil, Sheikh Arif Al-Basri, and Muhammad Hadi Al-Sabiti. In Lebanon, they disappeared Sayyed Musa Al-Sadr and later assassinated Sayyed Abbas Al-Moussawi, but the Islamic revivalist movement grew stronger. In Iran, they killed many leaders of the Islamic Revolution, including Sheikh Morteza Motahhari, Sayyed Beheshti, Rajai, and Bahonar, but the revolution became even more powerful.

Even after the fall of the Baath regime, arrogance and its agents, including Baathists, sectarians, and extremists, attempted to undermine Iraq’s new experience through bombings and assassinations. They assassinated Sayyed Muhammad Baqir Al-Hakim, Izz Al-Din Salim, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, and Qasem Soleimani, but the experience has matured and continues on its path to success despite its enemies.

Therefore, anyone who believes that the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon has collapsed or will collapse due to the martyrdom of its military leaders and its Secretary-General is mistaken. This resistance is not a personal group, a militia, or an electoral bloc; it is a revolutionary elite nurtured by the community, which protects and revitalizes it.

We in the Islamic Dawa Party are confident that our brothers in Hezbollah will overcome this ordeal quickly and fill all the jihadist and organizational roles left vacant by the martyrdom of its leaders, especially following the cessation of fire. The nation that gave birth to Hezbollah, the Islamic Dawa Party, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and Ansar Allah, among other rooted social and religious entities, is a fertile nation that will not be hindered by sacrifices and challenges.

The Zionist entity’s disregard for innocent lives in Palestine and Lebanon continues to grow more savage in both scale and nature, bolstered by the unconditional support, justification, and resources provided by global arrogance. This includes financial, military, logistical, and political backing, enabling it to impose death and destruction wherever its forces operate. Without such support, the usurping entity would collapse within days at the hands of the resistance—not only today but even before its establishment—because the Zionist entity serves as the advanced trench behind which the objectives of global arrogance are entrenched.