Israeli Airstrike Kills Iranian General

Israel has conducted a rare, daytime airstrike targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing one of the top Iranian generals in the Middle East, Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Zahedi was a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) which was confirmed by a Lebanese security source as originally reported by Reuters. The former Commander played a significant role in the shipments of weapons to Shia militia groups and Hezbollah.

Back in 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Zahedi for his role in supporting the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah while in 2010, the Department said that Zahedi “has also acted as a liaison to Hezbollah and Syrian intelligence services and is reportedly charged with guaranteeing weapons shipments to Hezbollah.”

Whilst many are decrying Israel’s move as an “act of terrorism,” senior adviser to the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, Richard Goldberg, stated:

“Iran and Hezbollah are seeking to normalize a permanent war on Israel’s northern border. Israel is not going to allow that to happen. The IRGC operates in Syria in close coordination with Nasrallah. Israel’s actions in Syria, like Lebanon, are taken in self-defense.”

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller commented:

“We are in conversations with partners in the region gathering more information, but at this point, don’t have confirmation either of the target or the responsible party,” while the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “our team is looking into it.”

The airstrike Monday also killed several Iranian diplomats, Reuters is reporting, citing Iranian state media.

The strike appears to signify an escalation of Israel’s targeting of Iranian military officials and their allies in Syria, which have intensified since Hamas militants — who are supported by Iran — attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel has not officially state its involvement.

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