01 April 2024 , 19:32
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Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard said that seven of its members were killed in an airstrike that struck Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Syrian officials and state media pinned the attack on Israel. The strike on Iran’s embassy compound appears to signify an escalation of Israel’s targeting of Iranian military officials and their allies in Syria, which has intensified since Hamas militants — who are supported by Iran — attacked Israel on October 7.
The airstrike claimed the lives of Gen. Ali Reza Zahdi, former head of the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, along with his deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and five other officers.
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Mohammad Reza Zahedi was head of the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016 (ALI_KHARA)While the Iranian consulate building was destroyed in the attack, the main embassy building remained untouched, according to Syria's state news agency, SANA. Iran's ambassador, Hossein Akbari, denounced Israel's actions, claiming up to seven fatalities and promising retaliation of equal measure.
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Responders are still searching for bodies amidst the rubble, with two police officers guarding the building reported injured. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for Israel's army, attributed a drone attack on a naval base in southern Israel earlier on Monday to Iranian direction.
Emergency and security personnel extinguish a fire at the site of strikes (AFP via Getty Images)Although the attack caused minor damage, no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, backed by Iran, accused Israel of trying to expand the conflict in Gaza.
Charles Lister, director of the Syria program at the Middle East Institute, described the airstrike as a "major escalation," anticipating retaliatory measures. Syria's foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, condemned the attack, reporting multiple casualties, while Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, urged other nations to denounce Israel's actions.
The strikes hit a building next to the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital Damascus (AFP via Getty Images)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Iranian state television noted that the Iranian ambassador's residence was situated within the consulate building. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes on targets within government-controlled areas of Syria in recent years, with heightened activity coinciding with conflicts in Gaza and clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border.
These strikes have targeted bases of Iran-allied militant groups like Hezbollah, which has deployed thousands of fighters in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. Previous Israeli airstrikes in Damascus resulted in the deaths of Iranian advisers.