Top General Lauds Iran Army for Efforts to Help People amid Pandemic

TEHRAN (defapress) – Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said the Islamic Republic’s Army has spared no efforts to protect people’s health amid the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

News ID: 80821

Date: 16 April 2020 - 14:08

In addition to enhancing its combat and defense readiness and capabilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army has been rendering assistance to the Iranian nation with all power since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, General Baqeri said in a meeting with Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi on Thursday on the upcoming occasion of Iran’s National Army Day.

Praising the country’s Armed Forces for working sincerely on the front line against coronavirus, he said, “The Army has spared no efforts to protect people’s health and sanitation”.

In a message on Wednesday, the chief commander of Iran’s Army also thanked his comrades for being on the front line in the country’s fight against the COVID-19 disease.

“I would like to thank all my dear comrades in the Army, Air Defense, Ground Force, (national) defense, air and naval forces … and especially those on the front line of defending health, and I appreciate all their sincere and earnest efforts,” he said.

Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami also hailed the Army’s efforts, saying on Wednesday that the Army had managed to prepare a 2,000-bed rehabilitation and medical center within 48 hours, which was of particular importance as the country was battling the new coronavirus.

Iran will celebrate the Army Day and the Ground Force Day on Friday. Every year commemorative parades are held across the country on the occasion but this year the parades have been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

In Iran, the new coronavirus has so far infected 76,389 and killed 4,777 others, with 49,933 cases of recovery, according to the latest updates released by the Iranian Health Ministry on Wednesday.

Iranian Armed Forces, including the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), have been joining the battle particularly after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on March 12 issued an edict to Major General Baqeri, emphasizing the need for the establishment of a “health and treatment base” to prevent the further spread of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic in the country.

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