Effects of the Israeli raid on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus (Reuters)
Yesterday, Tuesday, Russia accused Israel of seeking to incite conflict in the Middle East after the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, while Washington confirmed that it had no knowledge of the raid, amid fear that the strikes on Syria might lead to retaliatory attacks on Israel and the United States.
The Russian mission to the United Nations distributed to the Security Council a draft statement condemning the Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, holding it responsible for the strike, which it described as “unacceptable” and which led to the death of 13 people, including two Iranian officers and 5 military advisors in the Revolutionary Guard.
During a Security Council session, Russian UN envoy Vasily Nebenzia also denounced Israel's blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty, demanding an end to what he called "aggressive actions."
Washington is afraid
For its part, the New York Times quoted American officials as saying that fears are growing that Israeli air strikes on Syria may lead to "retaliatory attacks" on Israel and the United States alike.
American officials confirmed to the newspaper that the air strikes on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus were a “strong blow to Tehran” and could lead to an escalation of matters.
This comes after Washington confirmed that it had no prior knowledge of the Israeli raid on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.
Two American officials said that before the attack occurred the day before yesterday, Monday, Israel told the United States that it was about to carry out an operation in Syria, but it used ambiguous language and did not specify a goal, as they put it.
For its part, Tehran vowed to punish Tel Aviv for the strike, and stressed that it would respond to the Israeli attack that destroyed the consular section of its embassy in the Syrian capital.
Following the attack on its consulate, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chargé d'Affairs of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, considering it a sponsor of American interests in Iran, in order to send a message to the American administration.
But the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not clarify the content of the message sent to the American administration.
Since last October 7, Israel has repeatedly targeted Iranian military leaders and advisors, leading to the killing of at least 11 Iranian military leaders and advisors, in addition to targeting fighters in the Lebanese Hezbollah, the air defenses of the Syrian army, and some other Syrian forces.
Source: Agencies