Army commander-in-chief: Recent wars revealed air defense's vital, strategic importance

The full text of the message is as follows:

"In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Dear Brother, Brig. Gen. Alireza Elahi,

Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Joint Air Defense Headquarters and the Air Defense Force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran,

Peace be upon you.

I congratulate you, your commanders and personnel, and the honored families of this field's martyrs on the arrival of Sept. 1 [10 Shahrivar], the anniversary of the founding of the Khatam al-Anbia Joint Air Defense Headquarters and Air Defense Day.

This day recalls the valuable and farsighted decision by the martyred leader and Commander-in-Chief, Imam Khamenei, to establish the Joint Air Defense Headquarters as the country's top defense priority — a strategic decision that, by creating coordination and integration among the armed forces' defensive capabilities, has provided a solid foundation for safeguarding the skies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Throughout the eight years of the Sacred Defense [the 1980s Iran-Iraq war], the Air Defense Force wrote outstanding chapters of resistance and sacrifice through its effective and dedicated presence on the front lines, and in the years since, it has moved rapidly toward self-sufficiency, localization and the advancement of defense systems, drawing on the knowledge and capability of young specialists. The experience of the recent imposed wars once again revealed the vital, strategic importance of air defense in securing and protecting the nation's airspace.

Today, the use of advanced, domestically produced equipment and systems, combined with the knowledge, faith and round-the-clock readiness of air defense personnel, symbolizes the Islamic Republic's defensive strength and self-reliance in safeguarding the nation's skies.

On this proud day, while honoring the efforts of Air Defense Force personnel, I pay tribute to the memory of this field's distinguished martyrs, who stood by their systems until the final moment in defense of Iran's skies and gave their lives for the security and honor of the nation.

I pray to God for your continued success and that of all the Air Defense Force's dedicated commanders and personnel in carrying forward this proud path, and for the fulfillment of the wishes of Imam Mahdi and the directives of the Supreme Leader and Commander-in-Chief, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei."

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