Iran, Hezbollah Threaten Retribution for Daring Attack on Senior Iranian Officials Planning Attacks on Israel While US Rushes to Deny Any Involvement. Israel neither confirms nor denies responsibility.

In a bold operation widely attributed to Israel, a building Tehran’s in diplomatic mission in Damascus was flattened in an airstrike, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including two high-ranking Iranian officers. The incident has escalated tensions, with Iran and its ally, Hezbollah, pledging a stern response to the attack.

During an emergency session presided over by President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council deliberated on a response to the aggression. President Raisi accused Israel of committing a “cowardly crime” and assured that it “will not go unanswered,” highlighting the ongoing strife between the Resistance Front and the Zionist regime.

The ambiguity surrounding Iran’s potential reaction raises concerns over a direct confrontation or reliance on proxies such as Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Israel’s policy of non-disclosure regarding its operations in Syria contrasts its acknowledgment of strikes against Iran-supported entities, aimed at thwarting their consolidation in Syria and interrupting arms deliveries to Hezbollah.

The casualties of the airstrike include Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, alongside five other officers. Zahedi’s involvement with the IRGC’s operations in Syria and Lebanon and his connection with Hezbollah underscored his significant role in the region.

Hezbollah has expressed its intent to retaliate, emphasizing that the act of aggression “will certainly not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge.” Meanwhile, Israel remains silent on the incident, though it attributed a recent drone assault on a naval base in Eilat to Iranian aggression.

Amidst escalating hostilities, including increased exchanges with Hezbollah and missile attacks from Houthi rebels, Israel continues to target Iran-affiliated groups in Syria, signaling heightened tensions that could lead to broader conflict.

Iran’s appeal to the United States via a Swiss intermediary underscores the complexity of the situation, with Tehran holding Washington accountable despite US assurances of non-involvement, as reported by Axios.