Hezbollah Vows ‘Punishment’ After Israeli Strike on Iranian Consulate

Hezbollah issued a warning on Tuesday, stating Israel will face consequences for the previous day’s airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of high-ranking members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

The strike claimed the life of Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a former leader of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, along with his deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and five additional officers, according to the IRGC. Hezbollah lauded Zahedi’s significant contributions to bolstering its operations in Lebanon, recognizing him as a pioneering supporter and contributor to the group’s endeavors in the region.

Hezbollah’s statement promised that Israel would face retaliation for this “crime,” emphasizing that the act would not go unpunished.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, reported that the airstrike resulted in 11 fatalities, including eight Iranians, two Syrians, and one Lebanese, all identified as combatants. Among the deceased were Zahedi, his deputy, an aide, and the Quds force’s chief of staff responsible for Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.

While Israel has not issued a comment regarding the airstrike, Iranian authorities have pledged a robust response, heightening concerns of escalating violence between Israel and Iran’s allies, sparked by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In the wake of the Gaza war outbreak nearly six months ago, Hezbollah has intensified its attacks, leading to frequent cross-border skirmishes with Israel.