US-Israeli attacks make Iranians more united: expert

The strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel have made Iranians more united, said an Iranian expert on Thursday, calling the term "targeted killings" "too soft" to describe the operations against Iran.

Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, a number of Iranian senior officials have been killed, including the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij volunteer force.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Foad Izadi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, pointed out that the current Iranian government has a broad popular base.

"First of all, I would not use the terminology 'targeted killings' -- this is too soft. Iran's government has been surviving for the last 47 years. You remember in the early days of the revolution, through terrorism, we lost the country's president, the country's prime minister, and we lost many ministers, many parliament members, and the country survived. The reason is because the government that is leading Iran is the result of a popular revolution. The government has a very broad popular base," he said.

Izadi said that the U.S.-Israel attacks have worked to unite Iranians more than any Iranian politician could ever do, and the Iranian people will do utmost to preserve their civilization and protect their country from being balkanized.

"Netanyahu, on the first day of attacks, asked Iranians to come to the streets in millions. They did, shouting against Trump and Netanyahu. Any night you go out and leave your window open, you hear people chanting against Trump and Netanyahu. So when you have a nation that is even more united now, thanks to Trump. Trump has managed to unite Iranians more than any Iranian politician could ever do. When you have a nation like that, then if you have soldiers that fall, if you have leaders that are illegally assassinated, they will be replaced. Iran has a very old civilization. It has a deep understanding of the fact that it needs to survive and keep this civilization. Iranians are not going to let their country be balkanized," said the expert.

US-Israeli attacks make Iranians more united: expert

Commemorative events were held at martyrs' cemeteries across China on Sunday, the Qingming Festival, to honor the fallen heroes.

The Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and worshiping ancestors.

In Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a solemn ceremony was held at the Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs' cemetery on Sunday morning to pay tribute to the martyrs.

The event gathered more than 800 people, including the veterans of the People's Volunteer Army and the families of the martyrs.

The ceremony included playing and singing of the national anthem, moments of silence, and flower basket presentation.

"I miss my comrades very much, especially during the special days like the Qingming Festival. I want to tell them that ‘The victory you won with your youth, blood, and lives has brought peace to our country. Now, our country is stronger, and our army is stronger. We will carry on your cause and realize your dreams. Rest in peace,'" said Wu Dawei, a 93-year-old veteran.

During the three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday, Shenyang residents flocked to the cemetery to clean the tombstones of the fallen heroes and present flowers.

In Jining City, east China's Shandong Province, people from all walks of life, including veterans, Party members and cadres, and primary and secondary school students, gathered at the Weishan Lake Railway Guerrilla Memorial Park to commemorate the martyrs.

In Shanghai, the Longhua Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery held a ceremony to pay tribute to the unknown martyrs with flowers, a moment of silence, and three bows.

The event was attended by nearly 200 people from all walks of life, including outstanding members of the Communist Youth League of China and the Young Pioneers from local schools, descendants of the martyrs, soldiers and veterans.

People across China pay tribute to martyrs during Qingming Festival