Iran says Israel killed high-ranking IRGC member in Syria

Iran says Israel killed high-ranking IRGC member in Syria
by Darryl Coote
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 25, 2023

An Israeli airstrike in Syria killed a high-ranking member of Iran's elite Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, according to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who vowed retribution.

Sardar Seyed Razi Mousavi, an advisor to the IRGC in Syria, was reportedly killed Monday in an airstrike in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

In response, the Iranian president issued a statement of condolence to the family and friends of the brigadier general as well as to the people of Iran.

"I offer my condolences to the honorable family of this martyr, the people of Iran and his comrades in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the martyrdom of Sardar Seyed Razi Mousavi in the missile attack of the criminal Zionist regime on Damascus," he said.

"Undoubtedly, this malicious action is another sign of frustration and helplessness of the usurping Zionist regime in the region, and it will definitely pay for this crime."

Raisi added that Mousavi had been a close associate of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in early January 2020.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani also issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack, which he described as "a terror act of aggression."

"The Zionist regime has frequently and steadily violated international law and norms and has committed all kinds of crimes, and on Sunday, it did a cowardly and terrorist act," he said.

Hezbollah has been attacking Israel from both Lebanon and Syria amid Israel's war against the Iran-backed Hamas that began on Oct. 7, sparking fears that the conflict in Gaza may spread.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Mousavi was targeted in the airstrike and was hit after entering a farm in the Al-Saida Zainab area of Damascus, which the Britain-based human rights organization said was a headquarters for the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari declined to comment on Mousavi's death during a Monday evening press conference.

"The IDF has a role of course: to protect and safeguard the security interests of the state of Israel," he said.

Last week, Hezbollah said more than 120 of its members have died in fighting with Israel along the Israel-Lebanon border since Oct. 7.

U.S. conducts retaliatory airstrikes on Iran-backed targets in Iraq
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 25, 2021 - The United States on Monday conducted retaliatory airstrikes on facilities used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq over their recent attacks targeting U.S military in Iraq and Syria, U.S. officials said.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the strikes hit three facilities used by Kataib Hezhollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Iraq, and affiliated organizations.

Austin described the use of force directed by President Joe Biden as "necessary and proportionate."

"And let me be clear: the president and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops and our interests," Austin said in the statement."There is no higher priority.

"While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities."

U.S. Central Command said airstrikes were conducted at 8:48 p.m. EST, destroying targeted facilities and "likely killing a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants." No civilians were seemingly impacted the strikes, it said.

The strikes were in retaliation over Kataib Hezbollah terrorists attacking coalition forces in Erbil earlier Monday, injuring three U.S. personnel, including one service member who was listed in critical conduction.

The White House said in a statement that the Kataib Hezbollah attack was a drone strike, and that immediately afterward Biden was briefed and ordered the Pentagon to prepare a response. He then ordered the retaliatory strike on three locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups focused on unmanned aerial drones, it said.

"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks," Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command commander, said in a statement.

"We will always protect our forces."

The National Counterterrorism Center states Kataib Hezbollah was founded in 2007 and seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq and advance Tehran's Middle East interests.

The U.S. Treasury and State Department designated the militant group as a foreign terrorist organization in 2009.