Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh (Persian: امیرعلی حاجیزاده; born 28 February 1962 in Tehran)[1] is an Iranian military officer who serves as the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, a position he has held since October 2009.[2][3]
Amir Ali Hajizadeh | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 28 February 1962 Imperial State of Iran |
| Allegiance |  Iran |
| Service | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Years of service | 1981–present |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | Aerospace Force |
| Battles / wars | Iran–Iraq WarOperation Strike of MuharramOperation Martyr SoleimaniOperation True PromiseOperation True Promise 2 |
| Awards |  Order of Fath (1st class) |
During Eghtedar-e Velayat war games, on 8 March 2016, Hajizadeh said: "the reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2,000 km is to be able to hit our enemies from a safe distance."[4]
Hajizadeh was also one of the main figures in Iran who led and executed the April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel, known in Iran as Operation True Promise and October 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel, known in Iran as Operation True Promise 2. On July 1, 2024, he stated: "We are hopeful of the arrival of the opportunity for [conducting] Operation True Promise 2..." and spoke of his wish to have another chance to launch a large-scale attack on Israel.
He has also spoken openly about Iran arming its allies in the region, saying, for example: "As it is obvious from the weapons of our dear ones in Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere, it has now become clear that they are in fact being helped and supplied by Iran".[5] During a speech before students which aired on IRINN TV on December 1, 2023, Hajizadeh remarked: "Look, some people ask what the Islamic Republic has done with regard to Gaza. The Islamic Republic has done what it had to do. Until not so long ago their only means of defense was stones. Today they are defending themselves with rockets and they have advanced weapons and capabilities".[6] He was awarded Order of Fath in 2024.[7]
U.S. and Canada sanctions
editOn 24 June 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him, freezing any of his U.S. assets and banning U.S. persons from doing business with him.[8]
On 29 September 2022, following the protests to the death of Mahsa Amini, Canada added Amir Ali Hajizadeh's name to Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List.[9]
Hajizadeh was the commander of Aerospace Force of IRGC on 8 January 2020 when two surface-to-air missiles were shot to the Boeing 737-800, killing all 176 passengers and crew. Islamic Republic of Iran denied that missile brought down the plane for three days and pretended it was a plane crash.[10] Some in Iran's media even called it impossible. As the evidence and international pressures escalated, IRGC issued a letter on 11 January 2020 and Hajizadeh accepted "full responsibility" for the shootdown.[11] Despite this letter, no-one from IRGC, including Hajizadeh, has been demoted or punished for the crime.
About three years later, in November 2022, Hajizadeh blamed others for late acceptance of responsibility: "The decision was made after 48 hours. We knew what happened from the first hour, but other entities and organizations did not accept it.", he also added "48 hours is not too long (to tell the truth)".[12]
Threat to kill Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo
editIn February 2023 Hajizadeh claimed Iran has developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 kilometres (1,030 mi) and threatened to kill former US President Donald Trump and former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. Pompeo ...and military commanders who issued the order (to kill Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani) should be killed," Hajizadeh said in the television interview.[13][14]
Iranian strikes on Israel
editHajizadeh oversaw aerial attacks by Iranian forces against Israel in April and October 2024. On 6 October, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei awarded Hajizadeh with the Order of Fath in recognition for his role.[15]
References
edit- ^ Sardar-Hajizadeh tabnak.ir Retrieved 22 June 2020
- ^ WINER, STUART (3 February 2015). "Iran boasts of rocket aid to Palestinians, Hezbollah". The Time of Israel. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Enemies seek to sabotage missile program: IRGC". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ Sharafedin, Bozorgmehr (9 March 2016). "Despite Threat Of Sanctions, Iran Tests Missiles Marked With The Phrase 'Israel Must Be Wiped Out'". Huffingtonpost. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ "Iranian general says itching to carry out another direct missile attack on Israel".
- ^ "IRGC Aerospace Force Commander General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh On Iran's Involvement In Gaza War: We Did What We Had To Do; Their Only Means Of Defense Used To Be Stones – Now They Have Rockets, Advanced Weapons".
- ^ Motamedi, Umut Uras,Alma Milisic,Maziar (2024-10-06). "Iran's supreme leader awards IRGC commander with top medal for Israel attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh received the "Fath" medal from the supreme leader in the presence of Iran's top military commanders.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Issuance of Executive Order of June 24, 2019, "Imposing Sanctions with Respect to Iran;" Iran-related Designations; Counter Terrorism Designations". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ Canada, Global Affairs (2015-10-19). "Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List". GAC. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "Iran denies that missile brought down Ukrainian airliner despite Canadian, U.S. assertions".
- ^ جزئیات حادثه سقوط هواپیمای مسافربری اوکراین از زبان سردار حاجی زاده فرمانده نیروی هوافضای سپاه, retrieved 2022-10-05
- ^ ایران, عصر. "ببینید | چرا اعلام علت سقوط هواپیمای اوکراینی ۴۸ ساعت طول کشید؟". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- ^ "IRGC Commander Repeats Threat to Kill Trump, Pompeo".
- ^ "Iran says it has developed long-range cruise missile". Reuters. 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Iran's Khamenei decorates commander for Israel attack". France 24. 6 October 2024.
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