In response to the recent assassination of a prominent Iranian commander in Syria, Iran has asserted its right to retaliate at an appropriate time and place. Nasser Kanaani, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, condemned Israel for the attack on a commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who was in Damascus to combat terrorism at the request of the Syrian government. Kanaani conveyed these sentiments during a weekly press conference in Tehran.
The incident occurred on December 25, 2023, when Seyyed Razi Mousavi, a "military adviser" serving in Syria, fell victim to a missile attack. Kanaani denounced the Israeli assaults on Iranian advisers in Syria as a blatant violation of the Arab state's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He characterized these actions as adventurism intended to challenge peace and security in the region, emphasizing Syria's status as an independent state and a UN member.
Seyyed Razi Mousavi, a close associate of the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in January 2020, had been engaged in an advisory role in Syria at the invitation of the Damascus government. In December 2023, the IRGC reported that two of its members were killed by Israeli forces while on an advisory mission in Syria's Islamic resistance front.
Iran maintains its advisory presence in Syria within the framework of an invitation from Damascus, whereas Israel has consistently targeted what it claims are Iran-linked positions in Syrian territory. The situation underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.
(With Agency Inputs)
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