The Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas has extended its condolences and sympathies to Iran on the killing of Iranian President Mr. Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions in the helicopter crash that carried them, on Monday May 20.
In a statement following the tragic incident, Hamas expressed its immense “solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people in their feelings of sorrow and pain, and showed full support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in this painful incident and great tragedy, which claimed the lives of some of the finest Iranian leaders.”
These leaders had a significant role in Iran’s renaissance and took honorable stances in supporting of Palestinian cause and backing the legitimate struggle of Palestinian people against the Israeli Zionisim, the statement reads.
“We deeply appreciate their support for the Palestinian resistance and their diligent efforts in solidarity and support in all forums and fields for our people in the steadfast Gaza Strip during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, as well as their intensive political and diplomatic efforts to halt the Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people,” Hamas added.
Deep sorrow has prevailed in Iran following the announcement of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, his aides, and the Foreign Minister in a helicopter crash at evening Sunday.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iran’s state television confirmed on Monday, after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
The head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, earlier told state television that “no sign” of life was detected among passengers of the helicopter that crashed on Sunday afternoon.
“Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet,” state TV reported.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Iranian supreme leader to the province, were in the same helicopter as Raisi.
An official told Reuters that the helicopter was found completely burned and all passengers were feared dead.
State television broadcast images from the crash site on Monday morning, revealing scattered debris and rescue workers bearing the bodies of passengers on stretchers. The wreckage, seemingly indicative of a collision with a mountain peak, lacked an official causative explanation as of yet.
Throughout the night, rescue teams battled extreme weather conditions and treacherous terrain to reach the site in East Azerbaijan province. Thick fog enveloped the area, with temperatures plunging and heavy rain transitioning to snowfall, complicating the rescue efforts.
In the early hours after midnight, a Turkish drone detected a heat source, presumed to be the wreckage of the helicopter, and relayed the coordinates to Iranian authorities. This information prompted the dispatch of a substantial rescue team to the location.
Anxiety had been mounting for Raisi, 63, after communication with the aircraft, returning from a visit to the Azerbaijani border, was lost. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated that the helicopter had “made a hard landing” amidst adverse weather conditions.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=54025
