The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has lauded the sacrifices by war veterans and the country’s soldiers who lost their lives in the Iran-Iraq war.

“A nation can never defend its identity, honor and national beliefs without devotion and sacrifice,” the Leader said in a message released on Thursday, on the occasion of the Sacred Defense Week.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also touched on the issue of Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, who will see Muslims support their cause in worldwide demonstrations on Friday.
The Palestinians have terrified the hostile and heavily armed Zionists with their bare hands, the Leader said.
“This was the lesson our awakened nation taught all,” Ayatollah Khamenei continued.
On September 22, 1980, Iraq initiated massive air strikes on strategic locations in the newly-established Islamic Republic of Iran in the hope of crippling the country’s Air Force and gaining air supremacy.
Iranians defended their territorial integrity for 8 years under a critical unbalance of power and chemical attacks by Iraq. Iran suffered from sanctions while Iraq was supported by Western countries.
Casualties on the Iranian side are believed to have been in the range of 1 million people.
Iran commemorates the war every year in its Sacred Defense Week. It recently held a military parade and defense maneuvers.
(Source: Press TV)