Khamenei: Al-Aqsa Flood Operation Aims to ‘Eradicate America’

A picture distributed by the Fars Agency of Khamenei’s address to supporters on Wednesday.
A picture distributed by the Fars Agency of Khamenei’s address to supporters on Wednesday.
TT

Khamenei: Al-Aqsa Flood Operation Aims to ‘Eradicate America’

A picture distributed by the Fars Agency of Khamenei’s address to supporters on Wednesday.
A picture distributed by the Fars Agency of Khamenei’s address to supporters on Wednesday.

Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation ostensibly targeted the “Zionist occupation entity”, but in reality its goal was to “eradicate America.”
Fars News Agency quoted Khamenei as saying: “These operations have been able to confuse the agenda of US policies in the region, and they will continue, God willing.”
He added that the attacks committed by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza have unveiled the true image of the West.
“The brutal and inhumane operations committed by the Zionist entity against the people of Gaza did not only expose this entity and America, but also exposed well-known European countries and Western civilization and culture.”
Khamenei went on to say: “[...] When the Zionists kill 5,000 Palestinian children by throwing phosphorus bombs, the Westerners support this crime and say: Israel has the right to defend itself. This is Western culture.”
Khamenei also pointed to the American position on Lebanon, stressing that the US plans have failed.
“They were saying that they wanted to create a new Middle East... They failed to achieve this goal... They wanted to eliminate Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but their plan has led to increasing Hezbollah’s strength tenfold.”
On Iraq and Syria, the Iranian leader noted that the US administration was far from reaching its objectives.

“The Americans wanted to swallow Iraq, but they failed to do so, and they wanted to seize Syria by sending their elements to fight against ISIS and Al-Nusra... and they provided all kinds of support to them over 10 years... but could not achieve this goal...” he stated.

 

 



China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the US intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race.

The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the country.

China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during a meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos where top diplomats of world powers have gathered ahead of two summits.

Wang said relations between the countries are facing challenges because the Philippines has "repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its own commitments", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

"If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, which is completely not in line with the interests and wishes of the Filipino people," Wang said.

The Philippines' military and its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wang's remarks.

China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to disputed shoals in waters within Manila's its exclusive economic zone.

Wang said China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation, referring to the Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine vessels on Saturday successfully completed their latest mission to the shoal unimpeded, its foreign ministry said in a statement.