An Israeli airstrike near Damascus, the capital of Syria, resulted in the death of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to reports from Iranian state media. Mousavi was a top IRGC commander in Syria and played a crucial role in coordinating the military alliance between Syria and Iran, forming part of Iran’s regional network of allies known as the “Axis of Resistance.”
The attack took place in the Zeinabiyah district in the suburbs of Damascus, as reported by Iran’s official IRNA news agency. The IRGC issued a statement on state TV, condemning the “usurper and savage Zionist regime” and vowing that it will pay for the alleged crime.
Sayyed Razi Mousavi had been a key figure in the IRGC’s operations in Syria and Lebanon since the 1980s. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem, Mousavi had been the target of multiple Israeli assassination attempts in the past. Israel accuses him of playing a significant role in the network of arms smuggling from Iran to Syria and further to Iraq and Lebanon, contributing to what Iran terms the Axis of Resistance.
Israel’s comment on Iranian Commander’s death
There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the airstrike. However, an unnamed Israeli official mentioned that Israel is preparing for potential retaliation, which could include rocket fire from Syria and Lebanon.
The incident adds to existing tensions in the region, with concerns that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza might escalate into a broader regional conflict, involving Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The United States and Israel have conducted numerous attacks against what they describe as Iran-linked targets in Syria over the years. Tehran’s influence in the region has grown since it backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian conflict that began in 2011.
Earlier this month, Iran reported that Israeli strikes had killed two IRGC members in Syria who had served as military advisers. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and the ongoing hostilities between regional actors.