General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis are two prominent figures whose lives are known as a symbol of resistance and struggle against oppression and terrorism.
Despite their national differences, they shared a common path in defending human values, fighting terrorism, and maintaining regional security. Their life story, from birth to martyrdom, is filled with sacrifice and selflessness.
In this article, a brief look at the common path of these two prominent figures in West Asia:
Chapter one: Roots
In the 1950s, two children were born in two different parts of West Asia. Qassem, the son of a poor rural family in Qanat Malek, Kerman (southern Iran), was born into a devout farming household. A simple life amidst the arid mountains of Kerman taught him hard work and resilience.
Around the same time, Jamal Jafar, later known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, grew up in a Shia and religious family in "Basra" Iraq. Jamal grew up in an environment filled with oppression and pressure from the Ba'athist regime.
While Qassem, in his youth, worked in construction to support his family, Jamal was studying engineering at Basra University. Despite their different paths, both ultimately arrived at a shared goal: the fight for security.
Chapter two: The birth of commanders
General Soleimani joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 1981, where his military personality was formed. The war between Iran and the Ba’athist regime in Iraq was an opportunity for him to demonstrate his exceptional abilities as the commander of the 41st Tharallah division.
He became a prominent strategist from the western borders of Iran to the front lines of major regional wars. On the other hand, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis joined the Islamic Dawa Party in Iraq, fighting against the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein.
As the repression of Shias in Iraq intensified, he was forced to migrate to Iran. In Iran, al-Muhandis became a key figure in organizing Iraqi opposition forces and established a network of fighters to confront the Ba’athist regime.
Chapter three: In the midst of fire
Years later, the two commanders met in the war against their common enemy, Daesh. Daesh, a terrorist group that committed the most heinous crimes in the name of religion, occupied large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Baghdad was on the verge of collapse, and millions of people were in danger of being massacred.
At this time, General Soleimani, with years of battle experience and deep relations with the resistance axis, came to Iraq. In Baghdad, he met with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Hashd al-Sha’bi, with whom he had previously collaborated and had a friendship. Their friendship, based on trust, mutual respect, and a common goal, changed the course of regional history.
Chapter four: Decisive battles
On the battlefield, General Soleimani was not only recognized as a commander but also as an inspiring leader. He united various forces from different ethnicities and religions in the most difficult conditions. On the other hand, al-Muhandis, with his exceptional skill in organizing forces, played a key role in mobilizing popular forces.
The liberation operations of Tikrit, Fallujah, Mosul, and other occupied cities became a symbol of the unparalleled cooperation between the two. In every battle, General Soleimani was at the forefront, with his dusty boots and handwritten notes that boosted the morale of the forces.
Also,
Al-Muhandis, with his precise management, maximized logistics and
public support. One of the most memorable moments was their meeting in
the besieged area of Amerli. Despite the dangers, General Soleimani and
al-Muhandis personally entered the region and led the operation to break
the siege. This operation was not only a military victory but also a
source of renewed hope among the people.
Chapter five: Assassination in the dark
With the defeat of Daesh, the influence of these two commanders as heroes of the resistance increased. This made them the primary targets of regional and international enemies. On the morning of January 3, 2020, when General Soleimani arrived in Baghdad on an official visit, his convoy and al-Muhandis were targeted by a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport.
The
assassination was carried out on the orders of Donald Trump, the
then-US president. The explosion turned the vehicle carrying the two
commanders into a pile of ashes and dust. The news of their martyrdom
sparked a wave of anger and grief around the world.
Chapter six: Eternal legacy
After
their martyrdom, the bodies of General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi
al-Muhandis were carried in funeral processions attended by millions of
mourners in Iran and Iraq. These ceremonies symbolized the unity of the
region’s nations against oppression. General Soleimani, as a symbol of
sacrifice and resistance, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as a wise
strategist and tireless fighter, became role models for future
generations.
Their
legacy shows that in the most difficult conditions, human will can
triumph over oppression. The story that does not end is the story of the
lives of General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the story of men
who fought beyond borders for security and freedom.
Both
showed the world that friendship and unity can create an unparalleled
power, even in the midst of war. Their martyrdom was not the end of the
road, but the beginning of the spread of the resistance ideology. The
memory of these two commanders will remain alive in the hearts of
freedom-loving people forever.
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