What Happened?

  • An alleged Israeli airstrike targeted and destroyed the Iranian consulate/embassy annex building in Damascus, Syria.
  • The strike resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials, including IRGC Quds Force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy.
  • Iran, Syria, and several other countries condemned the attack as a violation of international law and diplomatic premises’ inviolability.
  • Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, but unnamed Israeli officials acknowledged carrying out the attack.

What the Arab media is saying:

  • The attack resulted in the death of at least 13 people, including seven members of the Revolutionary Guards, according to some reports. [english.aawsat.com, aljazeera.com, newarab.com]
  • Syria, Russia, and several Muslim countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, also condemned the attack, which Iran’s ambassador to Syria reported was carried out by six missiles from F-35 jets. [english.aawsat.com, aljazeera.com, newarab.com]
  • Analysts are divided over whether the action would bring about a regional war, with some seeing it as a deterrent and others warning of escalation, as Iran asserts its right to retaliate decisively. Hezbollah warned that Israel would pay for the attack, and protesters took to the streets of Tehran to condemn Israel. [english.aawsat.com, aljazeera.com]
  • The Damascus strikes were the fifth in eight days to hit Syria, whose President Bashar al-Assad is supported by Iran. [newarab.com]
  • Iran’s ambassador said the attack on the Iranian consulate shows the reality of the Zionist entity which recognises no international laws. [newarab.com]

What the International media is saying:

  • The strike is considered a significant escalation as it targeted a diplomatic compound, viewed as a protected national, sovereign space, though Israel can likely argue that its actions did not violate international law’s protections for diplomatic missions since the embassy complex was not on Israeli soil. [foreignpolicy.com, nytimes.com]
  • The attack is seen as a major escalation in the undeclared war between Israel and Iran, with Iran promising retaliation and the danger of miscalculation ever-present, prompting concerns from current and former American officials about escalating hostilities in the region and potential retaliatory strikes against Israel and its American ally. [nytimes.com]
  • While neither Israel nor Iran wants a full-scale war, the strike demonstrates Israel’s efforts to diminish and deter Iran’s allies and proxies in the region as part of the ongoing conflict, often referred to as “the war between the wars,” with Iran unlikely to respond directly against Israel but rather use its proxies, such as Hezbollah, Houthis, and possibly terrorists in the West, to retaliate. [nytimes.com, foxnews.com]
  • The successful elimination of key Iranian military figures involved in arming and guiding proxy forces against Israel is seen as a political coup for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces increasing protests calling for his resignation. [nytimes.com]
  • The United States was not involved in the strike and did not know about it ahead of time, but the Pentagon’s assessment was that Israel had carried out the airstrike on IRGC leaders. [cnn.com]
  • The strike is seen as part of a wider Israeli campaign to target top Iranian commanders and leaders of Iran’s proxy militant groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, raising concerns about potential retaliation by Iran directly or through its heavily armed proxies, which could spiral into a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah. [foreignpolicy.com]
  • While the loss of Zahedi was a significant blow for Iran, former Israeli security officials believe it will not trigger a full-blown conflict, as Israel calculates that Iran is too nervous about a broader war to retaliate in a big way. [ft.com, economist.com]
  • Condemnation came from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, which called the attack a “categorically unacceptable” violation of the Vienna Conventions. Russia strongly condemned the attack and called on Israel to abandon provocative military actions in Syria. [newsweek.com, cnn.com]
  • The attack on the embassy compound and the killing of a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is considered a major escalation, with Iran considering it a violation of its sovereignty territory as per international law. [cnn.com]
  • Retaliation in the form of a direct Iranian attack on Israel is unlikely, as it would invite a reciprocal attack on Iranian soil and could drag the United States into a regional war. [cnn.com]

What the Israeli media is saying:

  • The attack eliminated IRGC commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a highly experienced and seasoned officer involved in planning terrorist operations within Israel, and is considered the most significant one attributed to Israel since the killing of Qasem Soleimani. [ynetnews.com, mako.co.il]
  • The Biden administration informed Tehran directly that it was not involved in the airstrike in Damascus and had no prior knowledge of it. [jns.org, maariv.co.il, i24news.tv, ynetnews.com]
  • The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson stated that the building targeted was “disguised” as civilian but was a “military building of Quds forces,” neither confirming nor denying Israel’s involvement. [i24news.tv]
  • There are divisions within the Iranian leadership regarding the response to the attack, with some hardliners calling for retaliation against Israel with missiles, while others advocate restraint and avoiding a direct military response. [maariv.co.il, nytimes.com]
  • Following reports of the strike, the IDF increased its readiness in all units and sectors, as the attack had two aspects: ties to pro-Iranian militias working against Israel from Syria and the drone launched toward Eilat. [ynetnews.com]
  • According to Syrian opposition sources, the strike was aimed at a scientific research institute and military positions belonging to Assad’s forces and Hezbollah, and if Israel was responsible, the attack can be seen as a warning to Iran, deterring them from attacking targets deeper inside Israeli territory. [ynetnews.com]
  • Zahedi’s death comes weeks after the confirmed killings of Hamas leaders Marwan Issa and Razi Abu Tameah, who were senior figures in Hamas’ military council and participated in planning the war against Israel. [mako.co.il]
  • In the night between Friday and Saturday, Israel struck the Aleppo airport in northwestern Syria, reportedly targeting Hezbollah’s weapon depots and a Syrian army security compound. [mako.co.il]

Sources:

  • Fox News
  • The New York Times
  • Times of Israel
  • Arab News
  • Al Jazeera
  • The New Arab
  • Foreign Policy
  • CNN
  • AP News
  • Financial Times
  • The Economist
  • Newsweek
  • Le Monde
  • JNS
  • Maariv
  • i24 News
  • Ynetnews
  • Bloomberg
  • The Jerusalem Post
  • Mako

Links: