Tehran Vows Response After Strike Blamed On Israel Destroyed Iran’s Consulate In Syria And Killed 12

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)– Iran on Tuesday pledged to react to an airstrike extensively credited to Israel that ruined Iran’s Consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus the previous day and eliminated 12 individuals, consisting of 2 Iranian generals and a member of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group.

4 Syrian people were likewise eliminated in the strike, a Syrian authorities stated Tuesday, without offering any information about them. Hezbollah, which has actually been an essential ally of both Syrian President Bashar Assad’s federal government and Iran, likewise promised “penalty and vengeance” on Israel.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, an essential decision-making body, fulfilled late on Monday and chose a “needed” action to the strike, Iran’s state tv reported. It stated the conference was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi however supplied no additional information.

“We will make them regretful about the criminal offense and comparable acts,” stated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has last word on all state matters in Iran.

The U.S. National Security Council stated the United States played no function in the strike in Damascus and did not understand of it ahead of time. Americans straight encouraged Iran of that, a U.S. authorities stated, speaking on condition of privacy to go over the matter.

It was unclear if and when Iran would react, however any retaliation from Tehran would run the risk of an unsafe fight with Israel and the U.S.

Later On Tuesday, Assad revealed his acknowledgements in a phone call with Raisi and condemned Israel, Syrian state news firm SANA reported.

The airstrike eliminated Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who led the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria till 2016, his deputy, Gen Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and 5 other officers. A member of Hezbollah, Hussein Youssef, likewise was eliminated in the attack.

LOUAI BESHARA by means of Getty Images

Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabash stated that together with the 4 Syrian nationals eliminated, 13 others were seriously injured in the airstrike. He likewise did not divulge any details about the injured.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war tracking group, stated the Syrians were members of pro-Iran militias however didn’t elaborate.

In revealing Youssef’s death, Hezbollah likewise did not offer any information about him on Tuesday. It stated Zahedi played an important function in assisting “establish and advance the work” of the group in Lebanon.

“This criminal offense will definitely not pass without the opponent getting penalty and vengeance,” the Hezbollah declaration stated.

Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, after going to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, stated rescue employees are still looking for bodies under the debris of the consulate structure.

Considering that the Oct. 7 break out of the Gaza warIran’s proxies have actually stepped up attacks, with near-daily cross-border exchanges in between Hezbollah and Israel, and regular attacks on Red Sea shipping by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Israel, which seldom acknowledges strikes versus Iranian targets, stated it had no talk about the current attack in Syria, although a military representative blamed Iran for a drone attack early Monday versus a marine base in southern Israel.

Israel, significantly restless with the exchanges with Hezbollah, has actually alerted of the possibility of a full-fledged war. The Houthis have actually likewise been releasing long-range rockets towards Israel, consisting of on Monday.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated the nation remains in a war on numerous fronts “both offensively and defensively.”

“We see proof of this every day, consisting of over the last couple of days,” stated Gallant, talking to the Israeli parliament’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee. “We run all over, every day, in order to avoid our opponents from getting strength and in order to make it clear to anybody who acts versus us– all over the Middle East– that the cost for action versus Israel will be a heavy one.”

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike on the Iranian Consulate and declared on Tuesday “the concept of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular properties,” according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Guterres likewise stated diplomatic workers “should be appreciated in all cases in accordance with worldwide law.”

The U.N. Security Council set up an emergency situation conference on Tuesday at Tehran’s demand.

Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar condemned the strike as fears grow of a broadening local dispute. The 22-state Arab League knocked Israel, stating it intends to “broaden the war and press the area to mayhem.”

Iran’s main news firm IRNA stated Iran communicated an essential message to the U.S. late Monday, provided through a Swiss envoy in Tehran. Switzerland cares for U.S. interests in Iran as Washington and Tehran have no diplomatic relations.

IRNA likewise stated Iran holds the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, accountable for the strike.

A U.S. defense authorities stated that an attack drone was found and damaged by U.S. forces at Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Monday afternoon.

No injuries and no damage to facilities were reported. The main spoke on the condition of privacy to talk about information not yet revealed. The drone remained in the area of the base, however it was unclear whether it was targeting the base, the authorities stated.

And in the Red Sea, the U.S. Central Command stated early Tuesday that its forces damaged a Houthi unmanned surface area vessel the previous day. CENTCOM stated the vessel postured “a danger to U.S. and union forces and merchant vessels in the area.”

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Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press authors Samy Magdy in Cairo, Ellen Knickmeyer and Tara Copp in Washington, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations added to this report.