Iran's Supreme Leader praised the legacy of the slain Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in a meeting with his family.

Ali Khameini said Soleimani, killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020, had boosted the regime's “resistance front” in the region, referring to Iran's proxies and their military actions in the region.

During the Sunday meeting, the Supreme Leader attributed the recent “resilience of Gaza” to the existence of the “resistance front”, consisting of proxies in countries including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, all of which receive huge financial and military aid from Tehran.

On October 7, Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza invaded Israel, killing 1,200 mostly civilians. It has resulted in a relentless assault from Israel in retaliation as the country vows to eradicate the Gaza militia.

While the regime celebrates the Hamas attack and claims it is a victory over the Jewish state, almost 70% of Gaza's 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed in retaliation.

According to the UN, an estimated 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced, seeking refuge in shelters or makeshift tents in the winter cold as the conflict continues to intensify.

Soleimani had been accused by then-President Donald Trump of actively planning attacks on American diplomats and service members, and he was instrumental in supporting and organizing militant proxy forces, including Lebanese Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militia groups.