TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Tuesday vowed to answer an airstrike extensively attributed to Israel that destroyed Iran’s Consulate within the Syrian capital of Damascus the day before today and killed 12 individuals, together with two Iranian generals and a member of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group.
4 Syrian residents had been additionally killed within the strike, a Syrian official stated Tuesday, with out offering any particulars about them. Hezbollah, which has been a key ally of each Syrian President Bashar Assad’s authorities and Iran, additionally pledged “punishment and revenge” on Israel.
Israel, which has repeatedly focused Iranian officers in Syria and in Lebanon, didn’t verify Monday’s assault.
Iran offers cash and weapons to Hezbollah, in addition to Hamas and different Palestinian militant teams combating Israel in Gaza. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah alongside the Israeli-Lebanese border have elevated since the struggle in Gaza started almost six months ag o.
Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, a key decision-making physique, met late on Monday and selected a “required” response to the strike, Iran’s state tv reported. It stated the assembly was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi however supplied no additional particulars.
“We are going to make them regretful in regards to the crime and related acts,” stated Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has remaining say on all state issues in Iran.
The U.S. Nationwide Safety Council stated the USA performed no position within the strike in Damascus and didn’t know of it forward of time. Individuals straight suggested Iran of that, a U.S. official stated, talking on situation of anonymity to debate the matter.
It was not clear if and when Iran would reply, however any retaliation from Tehran would danger a harmful confrontation with Israel and the U.S.
Later Tuesday, Assad expressed his condolences in a phone name with Raisi and condemned Israel, Syrian state information company SANA reported.
The airstrike killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who led the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Power in Lebanon and Syria till 2016, his deputy, Gen Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and 5 different officers. A member of Hezbollah, Hussein Youssef, additionally was killed within the assault.
Syrian Well being Minister Hassan al-Ghabash stated that together with the 4 Syrian nationals killed, 13 others had been severely wounded within the airstrike. He additionally didn’t disclose any details about the wounded.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a struggle monitoring group, stated the Syrians had been members of pro-Iran militias however didn’t elaborate.
In saying Youssef’s demise, Hezbollah additionally didn’t present any particulars about him on Tuesday. It stated Zahedi performed a vital position in serving to “develop and advance the work” of the group in Lebanon.
“This crime will definitely not go with out the enemy receiving punishment and revenge,” the Hezbollah assertion stated.
Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, after visiting the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, stated rescue employees are nonetheless trying to find our bodies underneath the rubble of the consulate constructing.
For the reason that Oct. 7 outbreak of the Gaza struggle, Iran’s proxies have stepped up assaults, with near-daily cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, and frequent assaults on Purple Sea transport by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Israel, which hardly ever acknowledges strikes towards Iranian targets, stated it had no touch upon the newest assault in Syria, though a navy spokesman blamed Iran for a drone assault early Monday towards a naval base in southern Israel.
Israel, more and more impatient with the exchanges with Hezbollah, has warned of the opportunity of a full-fledged struggle. The Houthis have additionally been launching long-range missiles towards Israel, together with on Monday.
Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant stated the nation is in a struggle on a number of fronts “each offensively and defensively.”
“We see proof of this day-after-day, together with over the previous couple of days,” stated Gallant, chatting with the Israeli parliament’s Protection and Overseas Affairs Committee. “We function all over the place, day-after-day, with the intention to stop our enemies from gaining power and with the intention to make it clear to anybody who acts towards us — all around the Center East — that the value for motion towards Israel will likely be a heavy one.”
U.N. Secretary-Normal António Guterres condemned the strike on the Iranian Consulate and reaffirmed on Tuesday “the precept of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises,” in response to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres additionally stated diplomatic personnel “have to be revered in all circumstances in accordance with worldwide legislation.”
The U.N. Safety Council scheduled an emergency assembly on Tuesday at Tehran’s request.
Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar condemned the strike as fears develop of a widening regional battle. The 22-state Arab League slammed Israel, saying it goals to “broaden the struggle and push the area to chaos.”
Iran’s official information company IRNA stated Iran relayed an necessary message to the U.S. late Monday, delivered by way of a Swiss envoy in Tehran. Switzerland takes care of U.S. pursuits in Iran as Washington and Tehran haven’t any diplomatic relations.
IRNA additionally stated Iran holds the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, accountable for the strike.
In the meantime, a U.S. protection official stated that an assault drone was detected and destroyed by U.S. forces at Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Monday afternoon.
No accidents and no harm to infrastructure had been reported. The official spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate particulars not but made public. The drone was within the neighborhood of the bottom, but it surely was not clear whether or not it was focusing on the bottom, the official stated.
And within the Purple Sea, the U.S. Central Command stated early Tuesday that its forces destroyed a Houthi unmanned floor vessel the day before today. CENTCOM stated the vessel posed “a risk to U.S. and coalition forces and service provider vessels within the area.”
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Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Related Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo, Ellen Knickmeyer and Tara Copp in Washington, and Edith M. Lederer on the United Nations contributed to this report.