Iran Leaders Claim Israeli Missile Strike Killed IRGC Leader

Iran's state media reported that an Israeli airstrike outside Damascus in Syria on Monday resulted in the death of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, an Iranian senior adviser in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mousavi was responsible for coordinating a military alliance between Iran and Syria.

Iranian leaders say Israeli missile strike killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adviserhttps://t.co/Dyvez1ZjK0

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The announcement of his death was made on state television, which described him as one of the oldest advisers for the IRGC in Syria.

According to Reuters, three security sources confirmed Mousavi's death. Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi and the IRGC, condemned the airstrike, with Raisi characterizing it as a demonstration of Israel's weakness in the region.

The IRGC stated that Israel would face consequences for the killing.

Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador in Damascus, told state television that Mousavi, who was in the embassy as a diplomat, was killed by missiles fired by Israel after returning home from work.

The IRGC also emphasized that Israel would pay for the alleged crime.

Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on state TV, "Iran reserves the right to take necessary measures to respond to this action at the appropriate time and place." Israel's military did not immediately comment on Mousavi's death.

Israel has carried out airstrikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria for years. Tehran's influence in the country has expanded, particularly after supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war that began in 2011.

Earlier this month, Iran reported that Israeli strikes in Syria resulted in the deaths of two IRGC members who served as military advisers.

The conflict between Iran and Israel has continued to escalate as Iranian-funded groups including Hamas and Hezbollah have attacked within Israel, leading to concerns of a future direct attack between the two nations.