TEHRAN: Thousands gathered in Tehran on Friday to mourn the loss of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in Israeli strike in Syria.
The funeral procession echoed with chants denouncing Israel and the United States, reflecting simmering tensions in the region.
The strike, which demolished the Iranian embassy’s consular annex in Damascus and claimed the lives of two generals among others, provoked a strong condemnation from IRGC chief General Hossein Salami. In his address, Salami warned Israel of inevitable consequences said that Israel “cannot escape the consequences”.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Israel “will be punished” for the killings.
The funeral coincided with Quds (Jerusalem) Day, marked by rallies across Iran and other countries, including Syria and Lebanon, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Among the deceased were high-ranking IRGC officers, including Brigadier Generals Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi and Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the latter serving as the Quds Force commander for Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.
Zahedi’s death marks a significant loss for Iran, reminiscent of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Mourners, draped in Iranian and Palestinian flags, expressed defiance, chanting anti-Israel and anti-America slogans.
President Ebrahim Raisi and former President Hassan Rouhani attended the funeral prayer of the killed commanders.
Iran accuses the United States of fueling the conflict and denounces Israel’s reliance on American support.
