
Ali Al-Assadi, the chief of the Iran-backed Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement militia's political council, said in a January 18, 2025 show on Al-Sumaria TV (Iraq) that during the Gaza war that broke out following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led invasion and massacres in southern Israel, the "Zionist entity" enjoyed the support of the United States and the entire world. He said that American commandos had even been deployed in Israel on October 8, and that were it not for this, Hamas would have made even greater achievements, because the Israeli military had "totally collapsed."
He also said that the Iran-backed resistance axis has an ideological worldview and does not attribute significance to material losses, which he said are just the "price" of war. In addition, he said that HTS leader Abu Muhammad Al-Jolani has been warned by Shi'ite leaders throughout the world that millions of Shi'ites are ready to defend Shi'ite holy sites in Syria. Moreover, he said that if Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – whom he described as "our ruler" – or prominent Iraqi Shi'ite religious leader Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani were to issue a fatwa instructing the Al-Nujaba movement to hand over its weapons, the group would comply.
Ali Al-Assadi: "The Zionist entity did not fight all by itself in this war. The whole world was fighting with it, because America – and the whole world behind it – supported and funded it, and was making the plans and carrying them out. It came to the point that U.S. commandos joined the fighting."
Interviewer: "They did?"
Al-Assadi: "Yes. On October 8, [America] deployed special forces... This is verified. They declared so themselves. If not for the deployment of the U.S. commandos on October 8, Hamas would have achieved more, because the army of the occupying entity totally collapsed.
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"With regard to the material losses, like the destruction of buildings and so on – every war comes with a price, and you must pay this price. What's more important is that our approach in the resistance axis is ideological. We do not pay attention to this material aspect.
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"If we wanted to adopt this approach of material losses and gains, we would have to say that Imam Hussein lost the Battle of Ashura [in Karbala].
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"Al-Jolani and his supporters know that Sayyida Zaynab is not just a shrine. It [pertains] to our faith, and millions of Shi'ites are ready to defend it. He has received messages warning him not to interfere in the affairs of the Shi'ites."
Interviewer: "Messages from whom?"
Al-Assadi: "From the Shi'ite leaders throughout the world."
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Interviewer: "Whose orders to hand over your weapons would you obey? Sayyed Khamenei's?"
Al-Assadi: "Even Sayyed Al-Sistani's. Sayyed Khamenei himself said that if Sayyed Al-Sistani issues a fatwa, we need to obey it."
Interviewer: "So, if Sayyed Al-Sistani calls on you to hand over your weapons, you will obey him..."
Al-Assadi: "Yes."
Interviewer: "Will you hand over your weapons?"
Al-Assadi: "Yes."
Interviewer: "And the same goes for Sayyed Khamenei?"
Al-Assadi: "Absolutely. He is our ruler."