Iran promises retaliation for Israel’s “criminal” attack

According to Iran, one of its personnel was “martyred” in a fatal bombing in Syria.

Iran has vowed to respond after alleging that an IRGC officer was killed on Friday by an Israeli bombing close to the Syrian capital of Damascus. Following its unofficial policy of seldom commenting on attacks in the area, West Jerusalem has not replied to the Iranian accusation.

In a statement made public by Iranian media on Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) acknowledged the alleged Israeli strike as the cause of guardsman Milad Haydari’s martyrdom. Haydari was one of the IRGC’s military advisers and officers.

Iran referred to the incident as a “criminal” act that will have “answers,” it promised.

Iran has increased its influence in Syria by backing President Bashar Assad in the civil conflict that broke out in 2011. Israel routinely attacks what it claims are targets in the nation that are connected to Iran as a result.

Yet, the Iranians insist that the only role of their commanders is that of advisors. According to Reuters, dozens of IRGC officers have died in the fighting.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist organisation, as well as numerous paramilitary groups from Iraq have established strongholds in and around Damascus as well as in the north, east, and south of the country.

Local media reports that Israel began its missile attack early on Friday, just after midnight local time. According to Syria, it has destroyed an undetermined number of missiles.

Syria’s and Iran’s foreign ministries also vehemently denounced Friday’s bombings.

The Pentagon said last week that a drone strike against a camp housing US forces resulted in the death of an American contractor and the injury of a second by militants affiliated to Iran. The next day, Washington responded with an assault against IRGC guards’ installations in Syria.