“Iranian general warns of Gulf suicide bombings,” from Agence France-Presse:
TEHERAN – A top general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Monday warned that the Basij militia were ready “˜if necessary” to carry out suicide operations in the Gulf, amid rising tensions with the United States, the Fars news agency reported.
“˜If necessary we will take advantage of the element of martyrdom-seeking,” said
Brigadier General Ali Fahdavi, deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards” naval forces.
“˜This spirit is prevailing now throughout the Revolutionary Guards,” he added. The Basij militia is part of the Guards” military apparatus.
“˜They have taken an example from Shahid (martyr) Fahmideh,” Fahdavi said, referring to 13-year-old Iranian Hossein Fahmideh who became a national hero after blowing himself up under an Iraqi tank in the 1980-1988 war.
One can tell a lot about a society from the figures it regards as heroes. Here, we have a 13-year-old suicide bomber.
“˜The scene of the Persian Gulf and strategic Strait of Hormuz is such that even a small operation can have a big impact,” he added.