Khamenei Vows Israel Will Be ‘Punished’ for Bombing Iran’s Syria Consulate

The death toll in the bombing has increased to 13, including seven Iranians and six Syrians

April 2, 2024

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Tuesday that Israel will be “punished” for bombing Iran’s consulate building in Damascus, which killed senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“The evil Zionist regime will be punished by our courageous men. We will make them regret this and other crimes like it, by God’s power and strength,” Khamenei said in a statement published on his official website.

The statement came as Iranian media reported the death toll in the Israeli attack has risen to 13, including seven Iranians and six Syrians. Among the dead were Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior IRGC commander who oversaw Quds Force operations in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.

Israel’s bombing of a diplomatic facility marks a huge escalation in its attacks on Iranians in the region. Since October 7, Israel has significantly ramped up its airstrikes in Syria and has killed several members of the IRGC, Zahedi being the most senior.

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Israeli Airstrike Hits Iranian Consulate Building in Damascus, High-Level Iranian General Reported Killed

Initial reports say at least six people were killed in the attack

April 1, 2024

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike leveled an Iranian consulate building that’s next to the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, marking a significant escalation in Israeli attacks on Iranians in the region.

At least seven people were killed in the strike, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran has confirmed the death of Zahedi, who oversaw the IRGC’s Quds Force operations in Syria and Lebanon and is vowing a harsh response.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani Tehran will “decide on the type of response and punishment against the aggressor.” According to AP, the IRGC said the strike also killed Zahedi’s deputy and five other Iranian officers.

The bombing of the diplomatic facility comes a few days after Israel launched some of its heaviest airstrikes in Syria that reportedly killed 52 people, including Syrian soldiers and members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Israel has also killed multiple members of the IRGC since it ramped up airstrikes in Syria after October 7.

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