On Tuesday, Brigadier General Reza Talaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, declared that Iran would respond to the Israeli crime of assassinating military advisor Seyyed Razi Mousavi at a suitable place and time.

Talaei told Al Mayadeen, “Our response will be decisive, effective, and smart.”

He confirmed, during a press conference preceding his statements to Al Mayadeen, that the Israeli assassination of Seyyed Mousavi constitutes a blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty, and falls within the broader context of destabilizing regional security, adding that the "the crime deserves punishment, and the Zionists must bear the consequences."

Talaei also emphasized that in contrast to the misleading stances of the United States and "Israel", terrorist operations beyond the Gaza Strip are intended to incite conflicts in the region.

Read next: Various Resistance factions mourn IRGC commander martyr Razi Mousavi

Gaza aggression a 'terrible Zionist failure'

On the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Talaei highlighted that the Resistance has garnered influence in the region, and the strength of the Resistance Front has grown compared to previous years. He underscored that Iran's adversaries "failed to attain their objectives through fomenting internal strife in Iran, and their attempts to incite foreign conspiracies were also unsuccessful."

Concerning the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, Talaei characterized the onslaught as indicative of a "terrible Zionist failure," adding that "Israel" is going through challenging times, and the entire resistance front stands in solidarity with and supports Gaza.

Talaei emphasized that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood emerged victorious from the very beginning, and "Israel" is incapable of overcoming this defeat.

The occupation is apprehensive about an Iranian retaliation following the assassination of Brigadier General Seyyed Radhi Mousavi in Syria. An Israeli official said on Monday that the Israeli occupation forces are preparing for an Iranian response to the killing of Seyyed Mousavi. 

Raisi vows 'Israel' will pay the price

Earlier on Monday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi mourned the martyred senior IRGC commander, hours after he was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike in Damascus, Syria.

The Iranian President pledged that the Israeli occupation would pay the price for their crime against the top IRGC advisor in Syria.

Raisi issued later in the day a statement extending his condolences to the Islamic Republic and its people, as well as Mousavi's comrades in the IRGC.

Razi, he said, was a courageous man who was among the companions of martyred Quds Force commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

President Raisi said the assassination of the top commander was a sign of frustration and weakness from the Israeli occupation before he underlined once again that the Israeli occupation would "definitely pay a price for its crime."