Israel has not stated it carried out the assault that killed the Iranian commander.
April 2, 2024, 7:28 PM ET
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The Pentagon stated Tuesday that Israel was behind the Damascus airstrike in Syria that killed seven folks, together with Iran’s prime navy commander, though Israel didn’t declare duty.
Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman, informed reporters on Tuesday that Iran had stated it will retaliate as a result of Israel was behind the Damascus airstrike.
“The United States has not carried out any assault in Damascus,” Singh stated. “I want to introduce the Israelis to speak about their assaults.”
An ambulance is parked outdoors the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, after an assault believed to be carried out by Israel hit the Iranian consulate subsequent to the principle constructing on Monday. Iran introduced that seven navy personnel, together with two key members of the Quds Force, have been killed on the consulate. April 2, 2024.Firas Makdesi/Reuters
Singh later stated the United States assesses that Israel was behind the airstrike and that a number of leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have been killed within the airstrike.
“Our preliminary evaluation presently is that it was a prime chief of a small group of Revolutionary Guards. We haven’t been in a position to independently affirm the id, however that’s our understanding presently. “It’s an preliminary evaluation,” she stated.
“We haven’t acquired any data from the Israeli aspect in regards to the assault or its goal in Damascus,” Singh added.
The constructing attacked in Damascus was stated to be the Iranian consulate in Syria and was positioned close to diplomatic services of different Syrian nations.
“We haven’t got a lot element about what sort of constructing it was, however no, we don’t help assaults on diplomatic services,” she added.
People collect close to a broken website after Syrian and Iranian media reported an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate within the Syrian capital Damascus, April 1, 2024.Firas Makdesi/Reuters
Israel has not confirmed that it was behind the assault, and says Iran has killed General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Deputy General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and 5 different Revolutionary Guards officers. Nor has it denied that Israel was concerned within the assault.
This is typical for Israel, which is believed to have carried out dozens, if not tons of, of airstrikes inside Syria in recent times.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday vowed revenge in opposition to Israel for the airstrike.
“The evil regime (can be punished by the hands of our courageous troopers), we are going to make them remorse this crime and others prefer it, God bless you,” Prime Minister Khameini stated in an announcement posted on his official web site. I would really like that,” he stated.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian additionally stated, “The United States should take duty” for the assault.
“To be clear, we now have nothing to do with the assault in Damascus,” White House nationwide safety communications adviser John Kirby informed reporters on the White House. “So the Iranian overseas minister’s remark that by some means we’re accountable is full nonsense. We had nothing to do with it.”
Singh famous that the United States had contacted Iran and informed it “we aren’t answerable for this airstrike.”
He defined that the United States reached out to Iran in view of regional tensions and to keep away from miscalculations.
After Israel invaded Gaza following a lethal Hamas assault in Israel on October 7, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria focused US services in each nations.
The final assault occurred on February 4, when a drone was shot down on Monday close to the US navy base in Tanf Garrison. The base doesn’t seem to have been focused.
“We wished to make it clear in civilian channels that the United States was not concerned within the assault on Damascus as a result of I feel tensions are rising within the area,” she stated. “And we did it.”