In a targeted operation on the outskirts of Damascus, the Israeli Air Force launched a strike resulting in the tragic death of at least eleven high-ranking officers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a prominent branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, according to sources cited by Al Arabiya television.
The Iranian officers were reportedly at Damascus International Airport, welcoming a distinguished delegation when the attack took place. Nur Rashid, the commander of the IRGC in eastern Syria, sustained injuries during the assault. The Israeli strike occurred on Thursday at 11:05 p.m. local time, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Syrian Armed Forces. Despite effective air defenses intercepting most of the missiles, the targeted location was identified as Damascus International Airport, which had recently resumed operations.
This latest incident follows a similar event on December 25, where Razi Mousavi, a high-ranking general within the IRGC, lost his life in an Israeli air strike. The attack consisted of three missiles hitting his residence in the Shiite area of Sayyida Zeinab in southern Damascus. General Mousavi played a crucial role in coordinating Shiite units supporting the Syrian government forces.
The escalating tensions in the region have raised concerns about the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, with Damascus becoming a focal point for these confrontations. The international community closely watches developments in the aftermath of these strikes, anticipating potential repercussions on the already complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.