China News Service, April 2 (Xinhua) -- According to comprehensive foreign media reports, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on the 1st local time that the consular department building of the Iranian Embassy in Syria was attacked by Israel, killing seven members, including senior generals.
Image source: Screenshot from BBC report
According to CNN, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Haji Rahimi, commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “Quds Force”, were killed in the attack.
The report quoted Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hussein Akbari as saying that the consular building next to the Iranian Embassy was "attacked by six missiles launched by Israeli F-35 fighter jets." Videos released by Iranian media also showed that the scene was severely damaged, with fire and smoke.
After the attack, both the Iranian and Syrian governments strongly condemned the attack. Syrian Foreign Minister Mekdad condemned the incident in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abdullahiyan, saying the attack was a "serious violation of international regulations." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanani also emphasized that Iran reserves the right to take countermeasures against the attack.
Agence France-Presse reported that Israel said it would not comment on reports of related attacks.
According to CNN, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a press conference that the United States "has not identified the target or responsible party," but at the same time said, "We are always concerned about any situation that may lead to the escalation or intensification of conflicts in the region. ".
According to the Russian Sputnik Network, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement strongly condemning the attack. Israel's "behavior is absolutely unacceptable and must stop."