On Monday, the top commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for Lebanon and Syria was killed in an airstrike which Iran claims was carried out by Israel.
Mohammad Reza Zahedi was proclaimed dead by a Lebanese Security Source which spoke to Reuters. Iranian state television networks further claimed that multiple Iranian diplomats were also killed at the attack, which destroyed the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital city of Damascus.
Zahedi’s lieutenant and about five other offices were killed as well, according to the IRGC.
Later, the Associated Press reported that two generals and five officers were killed. The outlet also confirmed that Israel carried out the strike.
⚡️🇮🇱Israel struck the residence of high-ranking 🇮🇷Iranian military personnel in 🇸🇾Syria.
It is reported that Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi may be among the dead. pic.twitter.com/HZckvujQ79
— 🇺🇦Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) April 1, 2024
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
The interior and foreign ministers of Syria were seen at the ruins of the consulate, where an Iranian flag was still hanging from a flagpole.
According to The Jerusalem Post, which spoke to Iranian sources, Zahedi is the highest-ranking Iranian official killed in the conflict so far, outranking Sayyed Reza Mousavi who was killed in December.
Iranian ambassador Hossein Akbari, who survived the attack, said Iran’s response would be “decisive,” according to Al Jazeera.
When asked if they were responsible for the attack, a spokesperson for the Israeli military merely replied: “We do not comment on reports in the foreign media.” Israel has conducted airstrikes on Iranian Guard personnel numerous times since the October 7th attacks.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics, business, and culture for Valuetainment. Follow Shane’s work here.
Add comment