Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the death of Hezbollah's military chief will certainly stiffen the Lebanese resistance movement’s determination to fight the Israeli regime and terrorism.

In a message to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday, Zarif expressed the Islamic Republic's condolences on the killing of Mustafa Badreddine by the Israeli regime.

The Iranian minister said Badreddine was "all passion and devotion" in defending the ideals of Islam and the resistant Lebanese people and in fighting terrorism.

In a statement on Friday, Hezbollah said it is investigating to find out whether a blast which claimed the life of its top military commander was caused by an airstrike, missile attack or artillery.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Top military commander of the Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, Mustafa Badreddine[/caption]

The Lebanese resistance movement added that initial information indicates Badreddine was killed in a big explosion at one of its bases near Damascus Airport in Syria.

Early reports had suggested that the commander, 55, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike.

He was the commander of Hezbollah's military wing which is helping the Syrian government drive out foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists from the country.

Badreddine also directed military operations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and was a frequent target of attempts by Israel, the US and its allies in the Middle East to assassinate or capture him.

Israel is widely known to have been supporting terrorists fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Funeral held for Commander Badreddine

A funeral was held in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday afternoon for the assassinated commander.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] A funeral procession is held for top military commander of the Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, Mustafa Badreddine, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, May 13, 2016.[/caption]

Addressing the mourners, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, said the resistance movement will “continue the path” of Commander Badreddine.

Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, delivers a speech at the funeral ceremony of top military commander of the Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, Mustafa Badreddine, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, May 13, 2016. He said there are various hypotheses regarding the death of Badreddine, adding that Hezbollah will not announce how the commander was killed before the end of the investigations.

Qassem added that his party will determine the nature of the blast and the identity of the perpetrators within hours.

By Press TV