The attack and rhetoric raise concerns that Israel’s conflict in Gaza could potentially escalate into a larger regional conflict.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has pledged retaliation for an Israeli air raid in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of senior military officers. He declared on Tuesday that “Israel will be punished” for the attack, which claimed the lives of members of the Revolutionary Guards, including two generals, at the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus the previous day. This rhetoric has raised concerns about the potential escalation of Israel’s conflict in Gaza into a broader regional conflict.
In a message published on his official website, Khamenei stated, “The evil Zionist regime will be punished at the hands of our brave men. We will make them regret this crime and the other ones.”
The statement coincided with Iranian state television reporting that the death toll from the attack on the consulate building had risen to 13, including seven Iranians and six Syrian citizens.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the “cowardly crime” and assured that it would not go unanswered. He remarked, “Having failed to destroy the will of the resistance front, the Zionist regime [Israel] has put blind assassinations back on its agenda to save itself.”
Hezbollah, an Iran-affiliated armed group, also issued a warning, stating that the attack on the Iranian diplomatic premises “will not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge.”
Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the Syria attack, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant asserted that Israel is engaged in a multifrontal offensive and defensive war. He emphasized Israel’s determination to prevent its enemies from gaining strength and underscored the heavy price for actions against Israel.
The attack has further complicated the already tense situation in the Middle East since the onset of the Gaza war in October. Tehran has been cautious to avoid direct conflict with Israel but supports allies engaging with Israeli and US targets. However, the latest incident raises fears of escalating hostilities.
The UN Security Council is set to discuss the situation in a special session at the behest of Russia, an ally of Syria and Iran. China condemned the attack, asserting the inviolability of diplomatic institutions’ security, while the EU urged all parties to show restraint.
Despite diplomatic calls for restraint, the rhetoric from Iranian officials, including the supreme leader, suggests a strong response is imminent.
