TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Foreign Minister, Amir Hossein Abdollahian, warned that Israel would bear the responsibility for the consequences following an attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
During a telephone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, Abdollahian criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “Netanyahu has completely lost his mental balance due to successive failures in Gaza and not achieving his goals.” He condemned the attack as a violation of international obligations and conventions, urging a serious response from the international community.
Mekdad echoed Abdollahian’s sentiments, labeling the incident a “gross violation of international regulations, especially the convention on diplomatic relations.”
As of now, Israel has not officially commented on the attack.
Suspected Israeli warplanes targeted Iran’s embassy in Syria early Monday, escalating tensions in a conflict involving Israel and regional foes. The strike in Damascus’ Mezzeh district resulted in the deaths of seven military advisers, including three high-ranking commanders, according to Tehran.
Reuters journalists at the scene observed emergency responders sifting through the rubble of a building within the embassy’s compound, adjacent to the main structure. Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and Interior Minister visited the site, condemning the “atrocious terrorist attack” and the loss of innocent lives.
Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, reported five to seven fatalities, including diplomats, and promised a “harsh” response from Tehran.
The Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death of seven military advisers in the strike, naming Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, among the deceased. Al Alam Television reported Zahedi had been a military adviser in Syria and led the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016.
