A recent Israeli airstrike targeted the Syrian capital, Damascus, destroying a building utilized by the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, resulting in the death of a high-ranking commander and one of his deputies, as reported by the Associated Press.
Reports from Syrian state media and Iran’s Student News Network, a hard-line outlet closely associated with the Guard’s Basij branch, confirmed that the airstrike occurred during a meeting of officials from Iran-backed groups. The strike led to the deaths of at least five people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor.
The deceased individuals were identified as members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Expeditionary Quds Force. The attack unfolded in the heavily secured Mazzeh neighborhood of western Damascus, described by Syrian state TV as “Israeli aggression” targeting a residential building. The location also houses several diplomatic missions, including those of Venezuela and South Africa.
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An official representing an Iran-backed group, with knowledge of the situation, revealed that Revolutionary Guard officials were utilizing the building during the strike. The official stated that Israeli missiles destroyed the structure, resulting in the deaths or injuries of 10 people. Security forces promptly deployed to the area, conducting search and rescue operations for anyone trapped under the rubble. Nearby buildings experienced shattered windows due to the impact of the attack.
Witnesses recounted hearing five consecutive explosions, followed by the sight of smoke billowing from behind a nearby mosque.
This strike unfolded amid escalating tensions in the region, coinciding with Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza. Israel has a history of conducting numerous airstrikes on government-controlled parts of Syria, often targeting bases of Iran-allied militant groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
While Israel rarely admits to its actions in Syria, it has acknowledged targeting these bases, contributing to the broader regional conflict. Iran and Syria have acknowledged the presence of Iranian advisers and military experts in Syria but consistently denied the deployment of ground troops.
Iran-backed groups have played a pivotal role in the Syrian conflict since its inception in 2011, supporting President Bashar Assad’s forces and influencing the balance of power in the region.
In a similar incident last month, an Israeli airstrike in a Damascus suburb resulted in the demise of Iranian General Seyed Razi Mousavi, a long-time adviser to the Revolutionary Guard in Syria. The situation remains fluid as regional tensions continue to mount.
