Lebanese expert: Soleimani challenged empires as a commander.
Brigadier General Mounir Shehadeh, an expert on military and strategic issues and former coordinator of the Lebanese government in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in South Lebanon (UNIFIL), said in an interview with IRNA about martyr General Hajj Qassem Soleimani: “Martyr Soleimani was not only a regional military commander, but due to his role, activities, and position at the heart of battles, he became one of the most prominent creators of strategic developments in West Asia in recent decades.
Brigadier General Munir Shehadeh, an expert on military and strategic issues and former coordinator of the Lebanese government in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in South Lebanon (UNIFIL), said in an interview with IRNA about martyr General Hajj Qassem Soleimani: “Martyr Soleimani was not only a regional military commander, but also, due to his role, activities, and position at the heart of battles, he became one of the most prominent creators of strategic developments in West Asia in recent decades.”
General Soleimani was a clear example of steadfastness on the battlefield, political intelligence, and human humility
He added: Hajj Qassem’s personality was not limited to military uniforms; rather, it was a rare combination of steadfastness on the battlefield, political intelligence, and human humility that made him an influential factor in regional equations and a direct target for the United States and Israel.
Shehadeh emphasized: He was distinguished by his ability to work quietly and out of sight, as well as to create deep networks of trust with allied forces, without arrogance or hegemony. He was a field commander present on the front lines, not a manager sitting in closed rooms. This characteristic earned the respect of warriors before politicians, and his name became synonymous with commitment and sacrifice, not speeches and slogans.
The Lebanese expert continued: “In terms of security and stability, Soleimani was the spearhead of the attack in confronting the most dangerous wave of regional threats that emerged with the emergence of Takfiri groups. When armies collapsed, and countries hesitated, his presence was a decisive factor in preventing the fall of capitals and rebuilding lines of resistance from Iraq to Syria.”
Martyr Soleimani’s goal was to maintain regional stability and prevent chaos in the region.
He added: Hajj Qassem did not seek expansionism and influence in the region, but his main goal was to prevent the collapse of the region and its transformation into a scene of chaos that would serve the interests of America and Israel.
Regarding the role of Martyr Soleimani in the Palestinian cause, Shehadeh also emphasized: Palestine was always present in his political and ideological awareness. He saw Palestine as a central issue by which the sincerity of any resistance project would be measured.
General Soleimani saw the strength of nations in their unity
The Lebanese expert said: Hajj Qassem believed that the strength of any nation lies in its unity and that religious and ethnic divisions are the most dangerous weapons in the hands of the enemies. Therefore, with long patience, he worked to bridge the gaps between the resistance groups and establish the equation “if the compass points towards Palestine, it will never make a mistake.”
Shehadeh continued: General Soleimani’s position among the resistance groups in Lebanon and the region was not imposed by force, but rather resulted from mutual trust and honesty in partnership. He was present where he should have been present and absent where he should have been. He did not compete with anyone in his role and did not usurp any decision; rather, he supported, supported and coordinated and was part of the victories, not claiming them.
Martyr Soleimani has become a transboundary symbol
He stated: In this way, the name of Qassem Soleimani was not limited to Iran alone. He became a transboundary symbol because his project went beyond a limited geography. The people of the region saw him as a clear example of their commander who stood up to American domination without hesitation and shattered Israel’s authority by creating a real deterrent force and not through statements. His assassination was not a target for an individual, but rather an admission of his role and danger to the projects of domination.
Soleimani’s school is based on faith, political realism, and collective and continuous work
Shehadeh also said: Today, after years of his martyrdom, it has become clear that what is known as the ‘Soleimani school’ is not limited to one individual, but rather to an approach. An approach that is built on a combination of faith, political realism, and collective and continuous work over the long term. This school is still present in the performance of resistance groups, their ability to resist and adapt, and in the continued failure of American and Israeli projects to impose final realities on the region.
The Lebanese expert concluded by noting that Qassem Soleimani is physically absent, but he remains as an action and an equation. The symbols that, after their martyrdom, worry the enemies have triumphed twice: once in the field and once in consciousness.