In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Verily, to God we belong and to Him we shall return
With utter grief and sorrow, we received the heartrending news of the crash of an air force aircraft carrying martyrs and injured combatants of the recent war, which resulted in martyrdom of a group of servants of Islam and the martyr-nourishing nation of Iran, among who were brigadier generals Waliyullah Fallahi, Namjou, brigadier general Fakouri and Mr. Kolahdouz «1». They were brave and committed servants who rendered great services to the country during and after the revolution and achieved martyrdom proudly and bravely on duty.
We hope that after securing the honorable victory for the nation and after making arduous efforts in the cause of faith they will proudly rest in piece in the proximity of God Almighty. There is no doubt that everybody must take this road toward the Truth and destiny. What happiness is greater than the one achieved during struggle against the enemies of Islam and when serving the Truth and people and struggling for the cause and honor. How happy were these martyrs who fulfilled their duty towards Islam and the honorable nation of Iran and earned the status of mujahidin and martyrs of Islam. It is the duty of the Iranian nation, particularly the armed forces, to keep the memory alive through bravery, diligence and determination and continue with Jihad as they did. They should secure victory in the front and behind the front and march ahead, and break the resolution the blind-hearted enemies who fancy with diabolic promises after martyrdom of one of our combatants. They must make it clear to the enemies that whoever engages in Jihad for the sake of their belief, cause and their beloved country, will not give in to weakness and fear on account of martyrdom of these dear ones. The young and brave combatants of the army, the revolutionary guards and the other armed forces are the followers of the Immortal Martyr «2». History has it that whenever one of his companions obtained martyrdom, his blessed face glowed and he became more courageous and determined. They remind us of the brave men of the early days of Islam who picked up the flag of Islam fallen from the hands of any one of the commanders and carried on with the battle for the cause. Even though we lost beloved and esteemed ones, we will keep on fighting for the cause with our remaining strength. The children of Islam will defend their beloved country with an iron will, bringing ever greater pride for themselves and their country so that the blind-hearted hypocrites taking refuge in the lap of the West would know the brave nation of Iran and its armed forces are alive and that there is no room for the West, the East pro-Western or pro-Eastern in this country. I would like to extend my condolences and congratulations to the Iranian nation, the revolutionary guards, the army and all the armed forces with their courageous commanders and the honorable families of the martyrs on this sad loss. Compatriots, armed forces and the dear families of the martyrs should take pride in them and their martyrdom for the aim and cause of Islam. I pray to the Exalted God to grant mercy to them and happiness and patience to the nation and the dear families of the martyrs.
May God's peace be upon His righteous servants.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini