TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday again threatened strong retaliation to Israel and the United States for the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards in a strike on Damascus, with the army chief saying his country’s enemies will “regret” the killings.
The Iranian army chief warned that those responsible for the attack would “regret” their actions.
The strike, which occurred on Monday, targeted the Iranian embassy’s consular annex in Damascus, killing seven Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) members, including two generals. While Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy, has not officially commented on the incident, Tehran has squarely placed the blame on Israel and vowed to avenge the deaths.
Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, speaking at a ceremony in Isfahan, emphasized that Iran’s response would be executed with precision and planning, inflicting maximum damage on the perceived enemies. Bagheri’s remarks came during a commemoration ceremony for Mohammad Reza Zahedi, one of the slain brigadier generals from the IRGC’s foreign operations arm, the Quds Force.
Zahedi, who had a distinguished military career spanning over four decades, served as the Quds Force commander for the Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Lebanon. The gathering in Isfahan echoed sentiments of defiance against Israel and the United States, with chants of “Down with Israel!” and “Down with the United States!” resonating among the attendees.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also weighed in, asserting that Israel “will be punished” for its role in the killings. The recent strike in Damascus marked the fifth raid on Syria in a week, with Iran accusing Israel of a series of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program over the years.
Iran Warns No Threat to Go Unanswered
Iran’s commander of the Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami said on Friday “No threat will go unanswered” in retaliation for the Israeli airstrike that destroyed the Iranian Consulate in Syria’s capital and killed seven of the guard’s members, including two top generals.
“We warn you, no enemy act against our holy system will go unanswered,” he said, speaking on a podium and showing a big placard with the phrase “Flood of the Free” emblazoned on it.
“The collapse of (Israel’s regime) is very possible and close,” Salami said, adding that the US has become “wildly hated by the world, especially in Muslim-dominated countries” for supporting Israel.
