Iran vows revenge after Israeli attack on Damascus consulate
An airstrike attributed to Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran's consulate in Damascus has left at least seven people dead, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Iranian state media confirmed the death of Zahedi, as well as his deputy, Mohammad Haj Rahimi, in the Syrian capital. Zahedi was a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, a US-designated terrorist organisation aimed at expanding Tehran's influence abroad, especially in the Middle East.
Whoever or whatever was targeted adjacent to the Iranian embassy in the Mazzeh neighborhood of Damascus serves as a stark Israeli warning to Tehran regarding its nefarious activities against the Jewish state. pic.twitter.com/s9c5S1i9VU
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 1, 2024
Specifically, Zahedi was responsible for the group's operations in Syria and Lebanon. He also coordinated Iranian militias in Syria and their links to Hezbollah and, according to Israeli Army Radio, oversaw all Iranian terrorist operations against Israel, from Syria, Lebanon "and the Palestinian sphere".
Israel has intensified its operations against Hamas allies in the region since the war with the terrorist group began last October. A few days ago, Israel also launched air strikes near Aleppo, killing several Hezbollah members and Syrian soldiers.
Al Arabiya, citing Iranian media, reports that senior IRGC official Mohammad Reza Zahedi was killed in the alleged Israeli strike in Damascus. The report is not yet confirmed. pic.twitter.com/ajI8ECb56c
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 1, 2024
Meanwhile, the so-called Axis of Resistance has also stepped up its attacks on Israeli territory. Early Monday morning, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq launched an attack on a naval base in the Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea. The town has also been a recurring target of Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Both Iran and Hezbollah have vowed "punishment and revenge" following the Damascus attack, described by the Tehran regime as "a cowardly crime" and a "violation of all international conventions". "We will make them repent for this crime and others," said Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran releases the images of the seven senior IRGC members who were eliminated in Damascus yesterday. pic.twitter.com/QKVsp0kNwE
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 2, 2024
State media also blames the US for the attack, although Washington directly assured Tehran that it was "not involved", a senior US official told Axios.
Israel to investigate attack that killed 7 aid workers in Gaza
This attack and heightened regional tension coincides with an Israeli bombing in Gaza that has killed seven aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen, founded by Spanish chef José Andrés.
Munition dropped right through the World Central Kitchen logo pic.twitter.com/RKcT01Z7SJ
— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) April 2, 2024
The volunteers killed include nationals from Australia, Poland, the UK, the US and Canada, as well as local Palestinians.
World Central Kitchen is devastated to confirm seven members of our team have been killed in an IDF strike in Gaza. Read our full statement on the loss of our team members here: https://t.co/gsijamzfMU pic.twitter.com/PtQCxX5XrW
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) April 2, 2024
The Israeli army has conveyed its "deepest condolences" to the NGO for what it describes as an "incident". They also assure that this attack will be subject to an independent investigation and praise the work of World Central Kitchen, which they consider "fundamental".
Army spokesman Danel Hagari recalled that Israeli forces have been working with the NGO "to help them complete their noble mission of bringing food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza". Hagari also pointed out that the organisation had helped Israelis affected by the 7 October attack. "They were one of the first NGOs to arrive," he said.
IDF spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari, spoke with @WCKitchen founder, @chefjoseandres, and expressed the IDF's deepest condolences to the entire World Central Kitchen family.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 2, 2024
The work of WCK is critical. pic.twitter.com/nRUYZVxif3
Subsequently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that the Israeli army "unintentionally" killed the seven volunteers. The Israeli leader said the incident would be thoroughly investigated, lamenting that such things "happen in war". "We will do everything we can to ensure that it does not happen again," he said.
Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip. This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 2, 2024
Chef José Andrés has called on the Israeli government to stop "this indiscriminate killing" and to stop "restricting humanitarian aid, killing civilians and humanitarian workers and using food as a weapon".
