Iran condemns embassy attack in Syria, places the blame on Israel.

Written by Jillian Shaw | April 8, 2024

Mohammed Reza Zahedi 

The Iranian state has accused Israel of bombing the Iranian embassy complex in Syria and has since promised to respond. Monday’s strike killed at least seven Iranian officials and six Syrian citizens in Damascus, the Syrian capital. One of the officials was leading Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer Mohammed Reza Zahedi and is considered to be the most high-ranking Iranian official killed since the 2020 assassination of IRGC General Qassem Soleimani. Officials from both Iran and Syria have since stated the embassy’s assumed safety due to international norms, which has been echoed by criticism from the UN and EU. 

Iranian leaders and allies have since condemned Israel for the attack and have warned of their retaliation. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah described the “punishment and revenge” Israel will face during a video broadcast, echoing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s previous calls for vengeance. Simultaneously, two anonymous Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran would continue its strategy of “avoiding direct conflict” with both Israel and the United States while supporting allies of Gaza. Due to the unprecedented nature of this embassy attack, the anonymous officials emphasized deterrence rather than full-scale retaliation. 

Israel has not since confirmed or denied their involvement in the airstrike, but has stated that the attacked building was not a diplomatic mission, according to Israeli security. Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told CNN that the building was in use by the Quds, one of the five branches of the IRGC, “disguised as a civilian building.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reassured the press on Thursday that Israel was prepared for any potential attack, stating that “we will know how to defend ourselves.” U.S. military analysts and the Pentagon have shared their assessment that Israel did cause the strike and that they believe Iran is more likely to strike Israel directly instead of attacking U.S. troops in the region by proxy.