Israeli Warplanes Strike Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Killing Seven Officers
In a daring and deadly move, Israeli warplanes struck part of the Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven officers overseeing Iran’s covert operations in the Middle East. The strike, which was confirmed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, killed three generals in Iran’s Quds Force, the external military and intelligence service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, as well as four other officers.
The Israeli military has not officially commented on the strike, but four Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that Israel was behind the attack. This strike marks one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran, which has included targeted assassinations and proxy attacks in the past.
Among those killed in the strike were senior Quds Force commander Mohamad Reza Zahedi, who oversaw covert military operations in Syria and Lebanon, as well as Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi and Gen. Hossein Aman Allahi, who were key figures in the Quds Force’s operations in the region.
The attack, which targeted a secret meeting between Iranian intelligence officials and Palestinian militants discussing the war in Gaza, has raised tensions between the two countries. Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for the strike, with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian condemning the attack and promising a “fierce response.”
The strike has also sparked questions and concerns among supporters of Iran’s government, with some questioning how Israel was able to target the secret meeting and whether Iran’s security apparatus had been compromised. The incident has left many Iranians feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the government’s approach to the standoff with Israel.
As the situation continues to unfold, both Iran and Israel are bracing for potential repercussions from the strike, which has escalated tensions in the region and raised the stakes in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
