Israeli attack on Iran consulate greenlit by US, FM says
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian underlines that the Israeli occupation carried out its strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria with complicity from the United States, who greenlit the operation.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, right, leaves after the opening of the new Iranian consulate building in Damascus, Syria, April 8, 2024 (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated accusations against the United States on Monday, holding it responsible for a lethal strike that targeted Tehran's consulate in Damascus, which he said was green-lit by Washington.
The assault claimed the lives of seven members of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals, in the consular section. The strike occurred amidst escalating regional tensions in light of the Israeli occupation's war on the Gaza Strip.
While both Damascus and Tehran point fingers at the Israeli occupation for the consulate raid, the Israeli occupation has remained silent on the matter.
Amir-Abdollahian, speaking to reporters in Damascus, contended that the United States, alongside two European countries, obstructed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the assault, signaling Washington's tacit approval of the Israeli occupation's actions.
US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, rebuffed Amir-Abdollahian's allegations on April 2, dismissing them as "baseless". Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister inaugurated a new consular section in Damascus on Monday, within close proximity to the site destroyed by the airstrike in the Mazzeh district, an area hosting various foreign embassies and UN offices.
Amir-Abdollahian commenced a regional tour on Sunday, starting with Oman, a traditional mediator between Tehran and the West. During his visit, Oman's Foreign Minister advocated for de-escalation in the region.
In the wake of the attack, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader issued a cautionary note, stating that Israeli embassies were "no longer safe." Analysts view the strike as an escalation of Israel's ongoing confrontation with Iran and its regional allies, heightening the risk of a broader conflict beyond the war on Gaza.
Frequent strikes on Syria
At least 16 individuals were martyred in the consulate strike, including eight Iranians, five Syrians, one member of Hezbollah, and two civilians. Among the casualties were General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, both high-ranking commanders in the IRGC's Quds Force.
The Israeli occupation's airstrikes in Syria have been frequent since the outbreak of the international war on the country 13 years ago in constant violations of international law and Syria's sovereignty.
The Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran, Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, said that "Israel’s" terrorist attack against the Iranian consulate in Damascus will only speed up the occupation's demise.
“The evil nature of the world’s villains causes them to take actions that will accelerate their collapse, and this terrorist attack [in Damascus] will also speed up the decline of the occupying regime,” Fadavi said on April 7.
He added that "Israel" is not respecting any international regulations and is the main loser of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
Since the Israeli occupation launched its war on Gaza six months ago, it has committed horrendous crimes including massacring tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian children and women, Fadavi emphasized.
