Iran Pledges Retaliation For Fatal Assault On Consulate In Damascus

Following a catastrophic assault on the Iranian consulate in Damascus,  the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed death of seven of its officials, including senior commanders Mohammed Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, CNN reported.

Following an official statement from the IRGC, it was confirmed that the slain commanders were among those who lost their lives in the assault. Haji Rahimi, known as a coordinator for the Quds Force, was identified as the second commander killed in the attack on Iran’s consulate building in Damascus.

Additionally, other officials named in the statement include Hossein Aman Elahi, Mehdi Jalalati, Mohsen Sedaghat, Ali Aghababaee, and Ali Salehi Roozbahani, as reported by CNN.

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Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, alleging the involvement of Israeli forces using F-35 warplanes. Hossein Akbari, the Iranian ambassador in Damascus, condemned the assault as a violation of international laws and vowed that Iran would respond decisively.

“This is perhaps the first time that the Zionist regime allows itself to attack an official building of the Islamic Republic of Iran embassy, which had the flag of the Islamic Republic raised on top of it,” Akbari asserted.

Israel has chosen not to directly address the Damascus strike allegations. However, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesperson, challenged Iran’s portrayal of the targeted building. He asserted that it was not a consulate or embassy, but rather a military structure of the Quds forces disguised as a civilian facility in Damascus.

As tensions between the two regional adversaries mount, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, reiterated that Iran maintains the right to retaliate. Iran will decide the nature of its response to the aggression.

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