On Monday, Syrian state media and authorities stated that Israeli airforces launched a shattering airstrike in the Syrian capital of Damascus which destroyed Iran’s consulate in the process which resulted in the death of the Iran’s military consultee, the senior commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Brig-Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, its deputy Brig-Gen Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi and several others.
Both the governments of Syria and Iran also convicted that the attack also destroyed a house next to the Iranian consulate.
Who is Brig-General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the dead commander?
Perhaps, the drastic loss caused by the strike. Brig-Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi (aged 63) was a top commander of the Quad Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) who previously commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGCASF) and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces (NEZSA).
He was a decorated military officer who served in the 1979 Iran-Iraq and led the 44th Qamar Beni Hashem Division from 1983 to 1986 and later he led the 14th Imam Hossein Division in the IRGC from 1986 until 1991.
Later, he assumed the position to be the leader of the Thar-Allah Headquarter which carries the responsibility for a territorial securitycheck for Iran’s capital Tehran.
He was also involved in the latest Israel-Palestinian war where he was stated to meet some of the top leaders of the militant group of Palestinian Islamic Jihad at the time of the airstrike.
While a source stated that ‘Zahedi commanded the Quds Force’s Unit 18000 and was allegedly responsible for “smuggling ammunition and precision weapons into Lebanon.’
Zahedi’s second in command Brig-Gen Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi was his depuy and second-command to the Quad forces operating in Palestine. The other Iranian authorities or officials killed in the war included Mehdi Jalalati,Hossein Aman Elahi, Mohsen Sedaghat, Ali Aghababaee, and Ali Salehi Roozbahani.
Iranian and Syrians Officials’ response on the Airstrike
Hossein Akbari, the Iranian Ambasssador to Syria attacked Israel and stated that ‘as many as seven people were killed. First responders were still searching for bodies under the rubble. Two police officers who guard the building were wounded.’
He further stated that ‘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 sweared for revenge and stated that the Iranian officials and the military will soon respond for such devastating and cruel attack by Israel.
While, the Syrian Defence Ministry stated that ‘Israeli aircraft targeted the Iranian consulate building, which was on a highway in the western Mezzeh district of Damascus, from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Monday. Syrian air defences shot down some of the missiles they launched, but others made it through and destroyed the entire building, killing and injuring everyone inside.’
Nasser Kannani, the representative for the foreign ministry of Iran stated that the embassy remained intact beside the consular and confirmed that Iran deserves the right to fight back and will decide how to approach and respond to this type of aggression.
Israel Responds ‘Not A Consulate But Military’
Meanwhile, Israel responded to Iran’s accusations. The officials did not make any comment on the Iran’s consulate airstrike but Israel’s military representative Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that they didn’t want to target Iran’s consulate or embassy but the military facility of Quad Forces which impersonated themselves as a civilian structure in Damascus, Syria.
The airstrike was carried out by two Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II planes which are specialised for stealth and combat missions, it is intended to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities and also used for strike missions.
