BEIRUT: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Hezbollah on the 6th anniversary of the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel, praising the resistance’s victory in a letter Sunday.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ahmadinejad lauded “the Islamic resistance in Lebanon and the epics it created [in its fight] against the Zionist aggressors” in a letter he sent to Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah marking the anniversary of the war.

The Iranian president also commended what he described as the heroic role by the resistance fighters who were able to “subdue the occupying Zionist entity and fill the Islamic nations with pride.”

IRNA also reported that Ahmadinejad commended the “wise” leadership of Nasrallah, the sacrifices of the resistance fighters and the support the Lebanese people provided to Hezbollah.

He also voiced hope for further successes on the part of Nasrallah and the resistance in their struggle against Israel.

The 2006 conflict began on July 12, when Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and lasted until August. In Lebanon, approximately 1,200 people, mostly Lebanese citizens, were killed; in Israel, about 160 people, mostly soldiers, were killed.

Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure was also severely damaged and some one million Lebanese were temporarily displaced.

Following the cease-fire mandated and monitored by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon, Hezbollah declared victory over Israel.