Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, during a ceremony to open a new consulate in Damascus, reiterated accusations against the United States for endorsing an attack attributed to Israel that demolished Tehran’s consulate in the Syrian capital last week.
Tehran, a staunch supporter of Damascus, has pledged retaliation for the airstrike that targeted its consular section, resulting in the death of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals.
This incident occurred amidst the continuing conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the latter’s attack on Israel on October 7, with Tehran and Damascus pointing fingers at Israel for the consulate airstrike. However, Israel has yet to make a statement regarding the allegation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian charged that the lack of condemnation from the United States and two European countries in the UN Security Council implies U.S. complicity. In contrast, a Pentagon spokesperson refuted any U.S. involvement in the Damascus strike.
Inaugurating the new consular section in Damascus, alongside meetings with Syrian officials, the Iranian Foreign Minister also warned of heightened risks to Israeli embassies worldwide. Some analysts view the attack on the consulate as an intensification of Israel’s efforts against Iran and its allies, potentially broadening the scope of conflict in the region.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the consulate strike resulted in 16 deaths, including IRGC members, highlighting the ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Syria targeting Iran-supported forces and Syrian military installations over the past 13 years.
