People killed in Iran’s consulate engaged in terrorism against Israel – IDF
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Israeli military official said on Monday that the individuals killed in the strikes on the Iranian consulate in Syria were involved in terrorist acts against Israel.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), said, “To the best of my knowledge those who were killed in Damascus were members of the Quds Force. These were people who engaged in terrorism against the State of Israel.”
On April 1, five officers and two generals of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, were killed in an attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Hagari’s remarks came in the first official Israeli comment after the attack on Iran’s consulate.
Hagari said, “Among these terrorist operatives there were Hezbollah members and Iranian helpers,” adding that no civilians or diplomats were killed in the attack.
Iran accused Israel of the strikes and launched a retaliatory attack of more than 100 drones and missiles toward Israel on April 14. However, Israeli air defense systems and U.S. and UK forces shot down most of the drones over Syria, Iraq, and Jordan and deterred almost all of the attacks before crossing into Israeli territory.
On Monday, Herzi Halevi, IDF’s chief said Israel would respond to the Iranian attack.
“This launch of so many (Iranian) missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response,” Halevi said while visiting a base slightly damaged in the Iranian attack.