Tehran, IRNA – Chief Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Major General Amir Hatami has described air defense as a symbol of Iran’s defensive power and self-reliance, saying the experience of recent imposed wars has once again demonstrated its vital and strategic importance in securing the country and protecting its airspace.
In a message marking Air Defense Day and the anniversary of the establishment of the Khatam al-Anbiya Joint Air Defense Headquarters on Tuesday, Hatami congratulated Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, commander of the headquarters and the Army’s Air Defense Force, as well as its commanders, personnel, and families of fallen service members.
He said the establishment of the joint headquarters reflected the “valuable and farsighted initiative” of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to make integrated air defense a top priority in the country’s defense strategy.
He said the measure created coordination and unity among the air defense capabilities of Iran’s Armed Forces, providing a strong foundation for protecting the country’s airspace.
The Army chief highlighted the role of air defense personnel during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, saying they demonstrated resistance and sacrifice on the front lines of the country’s defense.
He added that in subsequent years, Iranian specialists and young experts accelerated efforts toward self-sufficiency, indigenization, and upgrading air defense systems.
“The experience of recent imposed wars once again revealed the vital and strategic importance of air defense in ensuring security and protecting the country’s airspace,” Hatami said.
He described the use of advanced indigenous equipment and systems, alongside the knowledge, faith, and round-the-clock readiness of air defense personnel, as a symbol of Iran’s defensive power and self-reliance.
General Hatami also paid tribute to air defense personnel who were killed while defending Iran’s skies, saying they “stood by the systems and in the trenches of defending Iran’s airspace until their last moments” and sacrificed their lives for the nation’s security and dignity.
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