The destruction of the Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of senior Iranian officials and generals, risks escalating into a major war in the region. American intelligence CIA warned that within 48 hours Iran could launch a military operation against Israel, reports Vox News.
"Earlier, senior officials in Iran reacted to the attack by stating that their country already has every right to respond to Israel's attack on their consulate," a Middle Eastern media outlet reported.
Lebanese pan-Arab satellite news channel Al Mayadeen has stated that Tehran plans a combined drone and missile attack, dubbed a rainstorm, launched from its bases targeting strategic sites within Israel.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei published threats in Hebrew.
"With God's help, we will make the Zionists repent for the crime of attacking the Iranian consulate in Damascus," he wrote.
בעזרת השם נגרום לציונים להתחרט על פשע התוקפנות שלהם נגד הקונסוליה האיראנית בדמשק
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 3, 2024
Escalation between Israel and Iran
On Monday, April 1, Israel launched a missile strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus. As a result of the attack, the Iranian consulate building was destroyed. One of the casualties in the attack was a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
After the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a call-up of reservists to strengthen its air defense system.
This is not the first time that the IDF has struck Syria. In December, the Israeli army eliminated the senior advisor to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Sayyed Razi Mousavi.