Revolutionary Guards mourn those killed in Syria and threaten Israel
Today (Friday), Iran mourned the bodies of 7 officials killed in Israel's unprecedented attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria. General Hossein Salami, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, said: “Any act of aggression will not be answered.”
The funeral coincided with “Jerusalem Day” in Iran, an annual traditional parade during which government agencies organize, on the last Friday of Ramadan, massive pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel marches across the country.
State television showed demonstrators carrying pictures of the dead and banners reading “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” and Lebanese Hezbollah flags, along with images of foreign operations officers from the Revolutionary Guards.
Demonstrators in the capital marched to Tehran University, where Salami delivered his speech before the weekly Friday prayers.
Speaking from a platform that displayed a large banner reading “Flood of the Free” in Arabic, Salami said: “Any act of aggression against our holy regime will not go unanswered … our brave men will punish the Zionist establishment.”
The Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Tasnim agency reported that Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said in his opinion on the possibility of Iran retaliating against Israel, “The decision has been made and will certainly be implemented.” He did not provide further details.
The embassy was bombed and the building collapsed. Commander of his forces in Syria and Lebanon, Brigadier General Muhammad Reza Zahedi, Brigadier General Muhammad Hadi Haji Rahimi and military personnel Hossein Aman Allahi, Mr. Mehdi Jalalati, Mohsen Satakat, Ali Akka Babai and Mr. Ali Salehi Rosbehani. The total number reached 16, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Ahead of the funeral, a statement from the Council of “Revolutionary Forces in Iran”, a coalition of conservative parties, said the “al-Aqsa flood” was the “main planner and implementer” of the attack. In Gaza on October 7, contrary to the official Iranian narrative, it denies the forewarned Hamas attack that triggered the Israeli war on Gaza.
The organization, led by Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, an adviser to the Iranian leader, said, “Jahedi has a strategic role in (the opposition front's) design and implementation (of the al-Aqsa flood). The silent efforts of this great and immortal leader in the history of resistance against occupation.”
The attack was the most audacious attack on the Revolutionary Guards in Syria since the killing of Radhi Mousavi, a supply officer for the forces, in December, and the largest in their death toll.
The coffins of the seven dead were draped in the Iranian flag and placed on two trucks in the middle of Ferdowsi Square, one of the most important squares in Tehran. Banners read “Martyrs of the Jerusalem Road” as opposed to the name “Defenders of the Sanctuary” given by the Revolutionary Guard to those killed in Syria.
On Thursday, Hosseinia Khomeini held prayers over the bodies of Revolutionary Guard officers at his headquarters in the Pasteur area of central Tehran, attended by officers, commanders of military services and family members of the seven dead.
A large banner was raised in the square that read “We will make the Zionists sad,” Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said after Monday's strike in Damascus, before it became the slogan for the speech. Iranian officials and heads of the Revolutionary Guards led by President Ibrahim Raisi.
Ismail Ghani, commander of the Quds Force, the foreign wing of the Revolutionary Guards, said: “Israel is a cancer that must be eradicated.”
In turn, the commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadavi, nicknamed “Abu Fatak”, said the targeting of Zahedi was “proof that Israel and smaller factions are now trying to face Gaza, which cannot face it”. Islamic Republic. Of course, this is not suicide for Israel, but a declaration of collapse.” “What is certainly happening now between Israel, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and all parties of the axis of resistance of the Islamic Republic. A declaration of Israel's destruction.
Standing next to Ziad al-Naqala, secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, during a rally in Tehran, al-Muhammadavi said: “Now, the countdown to Israel's destruction … we are waiting. The leader's (Khameni) statement to see what comes next. What is this?” “We are waiting for a day to see that,” Mr. President replied, according to a video clip released by the government.
Last Tuesday, Khamenei said in a statement posted on his official website: “The evil organization will receive its punishment at the hands of our brave men, and we will regret this crime and similar crimes.”
On Tuesday, Khamenei said: “The failure of the Zionist organization will inevitably continue.” As for desperate attempts like this step they took in Syria, they will inevitably get a blow, these procedures will not benefit them and will not solve their problem.
In turn, President Ibrahim Raisi vowed to respond to the attack, stressing that “this heinous crime will not go unanswered.”
Today, Deputy Political Affairs in the Iranian President's Office, Mohammad Jamshidi, said on Platform “X” that his country had sent a written message to the Joe Biden administration, warning them not to fall into “Netanyahu's trap.”
Jamshidi added that Tehran had said in its warning, “Stand back so you don't get hurt.”
On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan announced that an “important” message had been sent by the charge d'affaires of the Swiss Embassy in support of US interests in Iran.
Iran's pledges, particularly on Iranian Street, strongly raised fears of a wider war in the region, and prompted the Israeli military to suspend a holiday for all combat units and announce another day of mobilization on Thursday. Forces to strengthen air defense units.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that “Israel will harm anyone who harms us or plans to harm us.”
Since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in various parts of the country, targeting the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard and units loyal to Tehran, in addition to Syrian military bases.
The strikes come amid an ongoing war between Israel and the Islamist movement (Hamas) in Gaza since October 7.
Israel rarely comments on attacks in Syria, but insists it will not allow Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to establish a presence on its borders.
