Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus was attacked on Monday in what Syrian and Iranian media have described as an Israeli airstrike, marking a significant escalation of conflict in the Middle East, potentially intensifying tensions between Israel and Iran along with their respective allies.
Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus was attacked on Monday in what Syrian and Iranian media have described as an Israeli airstrike, marking a significant escalation of conflict in the Middle East, potentially intensifying tensions between Israel and Iran along with their respective allies.
According to a Lebanese security source who spoke to Reuters, one of the casualties was Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Iranian state television reported that several Iranian diplomats were also among the casualties.
Reporters from Reuters, present at the scene in the Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital, observed smoke billowing from the debris of a flattened building, with emergency vehicles stationed outside. A pole displaying an Iranian flag stood amidst the wreckage, while both the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers were seen at the location.
Israel, known for its airstrikes on Iranian targets throughout the six-month conflict in Gaza, refrained from providing any statement regarding the incident, adhering to its customary protocol. An Israeli military spokesperson stated, “We do not comment on reports in the foreign media.”
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that five individuals lost their lives in the Israeli strike. Syria's SANA state news agency confirmed the incident, mentioning an unspecified number of casualties involving both deaths and injuries.
