Iran vowed on Tuesday to respond to the deadly raid against its consulate in Damascus, blamed on Israel, an unprecedented attack condemned by several countries and which increases tensions in the Middle East, in the midst of the war in Gaza.
On Monday, “six missiles fired by F-35 fighters” destroyed the building housing the consulate and the residence of the Iranian ambassador, killing 13 people: six Syrians and seven Iranians, according to state television.
The Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s ideological army, deplored the deaths of seven of its members, including two generals of the Quds Force, which intervenes beyond the borders, Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
Iran has accused Israel, its sworn enemy, but the latter has not confirmed its responsibility.
“The evil Zionist regime will be punished by our brave men. We will make him regret this crime and others,” vowed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“This cowardly crime will not go unanswered,” warned President Ebrahim Raïssi.
The leaders of the Islamic Republic did not give details on the nature of this response, but “necessary decisions” were taken during an emergency meeting of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council in the presence of Mr. Raisi .
Main ally of Israel and also enemy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States indicated to Tehran that they “were not involved” in the raid, according to an American official cited by the Axios website.
At the request of Russia, which denounced “an act of aggression”, the UN Security Council is to hold a public session on Tuesday at 3 p.m. New York time on this raid.
Iran called on the Council to “condemn this terrorist attack perpetrated by the Israeli regime in the strongest possible terms.”
“Message to the Americans”
China also condemned the raid as a “violation” of “the security of diplomatic institutions”, while the European Union called for “restraint”.
The head of Iranian diplomacy, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, announced that he had sent “an important message” to the United States, which, “as supporters of the Zionist regime”, “must assume their responsibilities”.
The message, the content of which was not disclosed, was sent through the charge d’affaires of the Swiss embassy in Iran, which represents American interests in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries. , according to the minister.
Monday’s strikes are the first to target an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, a country in civil war since 2011 where Iran and its allies support the power of President Bashar al-Assad.
Iraq stressed on Tuesday that this action could bring “more chaos and instability” to the Middle East, as fears grow that the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip could degenerate into a regional conflict. .
So far, Iran has increased its declarations of support for Hamas and accused Israel of carrying out a “genocide”, while denying any involvement in the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement against Israel on October 7, which sparked the war in Gaza.
But its allies, such as Lebanese Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthi rebels, have carried out attacks in support of the Palestinians.
Tribute Friday
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in neighboring Syria against Syrian government positions, pro-Iranian groups such as Hezbollah, and Iranian military targets since the start of the war in that country in 2011.
Many Iranian military officials have been targeted in the past by strikes in Syria, such as General Razi Mousavi, a key commander of the Quds Force, killed in January in a missile strike south of Damascus blamed on Israel.
Strikes have intensified since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. Monday’s raid in Damascus was the fifth to target Syria in eight days.
In Damascus, an AFP journalist noted that the consular section of the Iranian embassy had been completely destroyed. The windows of buildings up to 500 meters away were broken and a large number of cars damaged.
A tribute will be paid in Tehran to the seven Iranian deaths on Friday, which marks Al Quds Day, celebrated every year since Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979 to support the Palestinian cause and denounce Israel.