January 20, 2024 – An Israeli airstrike in Damascus has claimed the lives of five members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. This strike targeted the Mazzeh neighborhood, a diplomatic district that includes the Iranian embassy. Among the deceased are key Iranian military figures: Hojjatollah Omidvar, a deputy chief of the Quds Force intelligence unit in Syria, and 4 other military advisors. Their presence in Syria had been at the official invitation of the Syrian government, according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaan.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the strike targeted a four-story building, resulting in at least ten deaths, including at least one Syrian civilian. Iranian officials have condemned the airstrike as a violation of international laws and an aggressive escalation by Israel. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman emphasized that Tehran would respond “at the appropriate time and place.”
As of now, Israel has not commented on the incident, maintaining its policy of ambiguity regarding military operations in Syria. This strike is a continuation of a series of Israeli attacks in Syria, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Syrian army positions.
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