Iranian media reported today, Monday, about "the death of 8 members of the Revolutionary Guard, including 6 leaders from the Quds Force, due to an explosion near the Iranian embassy in Damascus." They stated: "Among the deceased are Mohammad Reza Zahidi, a leader in the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy, Mohammad Hadi Rahimi, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Guard, Brigadier General Hossein Amir Alla."
The Syrian news agency confirmed hearing explosions in the vicinity of Damascus, indicating that "the Israeli army targeted a building in the Mezze neighborhood." They reported: "Air defenses are responding to hostile targets in the vicinity of the capital, Damascus."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also announced that "Iranian leadership figures were targeted during the raid on Mezze in Damascus," stating: "Initial reports indicate the deaths of advisors or leaders in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard due to the Mezze explosion." They added that "Israel targeted the Iranian consulate and the residence of the Iranian ambassador to Syria."
The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported that the Iranian ambassador to Damascus is safe, while the U.S. media outlet "CNN" in its Persian version stated that the targeted building is the residence of Ambassador Hossein Akbari.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad condemned the Israeli strikes that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, affirming that the relations between his country and Iran "will not be affected." Speaking from the premises of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, he stated: "We strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of a number of innocent people." He added: "Israel will not be able to influence the relations binding Iran and Syria."
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian called on the international community for a "serious response" to the Israeli bombing that targeted his country's consulate in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of at least five members of the Revolutionary Guard, including a leader. In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mikdad, Abdollahian considered the Israeli strike to be "a violation of all obligations and international charters," holding the Zionist regime responsible for the repercussions of this act and emphasizing the necessity for the international community to respond seriously to these criminal acts, according to a statement from the ministry.
He affirmed that Tehran holds Israel responsible for the aftermath of the attack on its consulate in Damascus, stressing that the attack on the consulate building constitutes "a breach of all international charters."
For his part, Iran's ambassador to Damascus, Hossein Akbari, noted that what happened reflects the reality of Israel, which "does not recognize any international laws and does everything contrary to humanity to achieve its goals."
The Mezze highway contains several embassies next to the Iranian embassy, including those of Canada, Greece, Belgium, Austria, and other Arab and Western embassies. Moreover, the location targeted is only a few kilometers from the presidential palace in the capital.
