Iranian Guards Vow Revenge Against Israel Following Killing of General in Syria

Wed Dec 27 2023
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TEHRAN: In a heated response to the killing of senior commander Razi Moussavi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has warned Israel of direct action to avenge Moussavi’s death. The general was killed in an Israeli missile strike near the Syrian capital, adding to the ongoing regional tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Moussavi, a commander in the IRGC’s foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, was killed in the Israeli missile strike on Monday. The Israeli army, known for launching several strikes on Syria in recent years, refrained from commenting on foreign media reports regarding the incident.

The body of the deceased general was transported to Iraq for funeral rites at holy sites, with his burial in Iran scheduled for Thursday. IRGC spokesman Ramezan Sharif stated that the response to Moussavi’s assassination would involve a combination of direct action and actions led by the “Axis of Resistance.”

Sharif suggested that Israel’s targeting of Moussavi near Damascus could be linked to failures following the “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” referring to the October 7 surprise attack launched by Hamas against Israel. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign killing over 21,000 Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, Gaza’s health ministry reported.

Iran Accuses Israel of Attempts to Expand War

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized Iran’s duty to support resistance groups, asserting their independence in decision-making. Sharif contended that Moussavi’s killing was an Israeli attempt to expand the war into other geographical areas.

In Iraq, mourners gathered for memorial prayers for Moussavi, expressing anti-American sentiments during the procession. The pallbearers included members of the Hashed al-Shaabi.

Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammed al-Sadiq, characterized Moussavi’s death as the latest crime on the Israeli “enemy’s list.”

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