Several killed in Israeli strike on Iranian consulate in Syria
Iran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, was destroyed on Monday in what both Syrian and Iranian media are attributing to an Israeli airstrike. This event marks a significant escalation in tensions in the Middle East, potentially setting Israel against Iran and its allies.
According to a Lebanese security source cited by media outlets, among the casualties were Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi. The IRGC confirmed these deaths in a statement on Monday. Iranian state television also reported the deaths of several Iranian diplomats.
Reporters from Reuters who were present at the scene in Damascus witnessed smoke billowing from the ruins of the consulate building, with emergency vehicles gathered nearby. The debris included the remnants of an Iranian flag, and both the Syrian interior and foreign ministers were observed at the site.
Israel, which has targeted Iranian interests throughout the recent conflict in Gaza, refrained from commenting on the incident, as is customary. A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated, "We do not comment on reports in the foreign media."
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that five individuals were killed in the Israeli strike, while Syria's SANA state news agency indicated an unspecified number of casualties.
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