Iran’s IRGC commander vows to avenge killing of military advisor in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Hossein Salami, Commander in chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Wednesday Iran will avenge the killing of one of its military advisors in airstrikes in Syria.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported citing Salami that “Zionists” will pay for killing IRGC military advisor, Saeed Abyar, adding that Israel should wait a response from Iran.
On June 2, Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian sites in Aleppo Governorate, northwestern Syria, killing at least 16 Iranian-backed militants including Abyar.
On April 1, Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which is adjacent to the main embassy building, killing five IRGC officers and two generals, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.
In response, Iran launched more than 100 drones and missiles toward Israel but its air defense systems shot them down over Syria, Iraq, and Jordan and deterred almost all of the attacks.
Tension between Israel and Iran escalated after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Since then Israel increased the intensity of airstrikes against Iranian-linked sites inside Syria.