TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday launched a new verbal attack on Israel, saying a "countdown" has begun that will end with Lebanese and Palestinian militants destroying the Jewish state.
In a speech to mark the 18th anniversary of the death of revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the president said last summer's war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah started the process.
"In Lebanon, the corrupt, arrogant powers and the Zionist regime did all they could in an unfair 33-day war. But after 60 years its (Israel's) greatness fell apart," Iranian media quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
"The countdown to this regime's destruction started through the hands of Hezbollah's children," he said in a speech to visiting foreign guests in Tehran.
"We will witness the destruction of this regime in the near future thanks to the endeavors of all Palestinian and Lebanese fighters," he added.