Tehran: Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has declared that Israel lacks a political, economic, or military identity of its own, being entirely dependent on the United States.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Salami made these statements during a meeting with Jamil Mezher, deputy secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The discussions focused on the Palestinian cause and the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. Salami emphasized that Israel is isolated and held in low regard globally, lacking a significant role in global geopolitics.

Salami also highlighted that Israeli officials are reluctant to travel to any country besides the U.S., as they face arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. These warrants target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister Yoav Gallant for their actions in Gaza.

The IRGC chief referenced Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, initiated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, stating that the operation revealed Israel’s vulnerabilities and its reliance on extreme lethal force. He expressed confidence in the Palestinian resistance’s ability to ultimately succeed in the conflict.

Jamil Mezher, on his part, remarked that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm altered the dynamics of the conflict with Israel and demonstrated that a victory is achievable. He argued that Israel’s perceived invincibility has been undermined and that the regime’s survival is contingent on Western support. Mezher concluded that without U.S. backing, Israel would have already collapsed.