Iranian leaders stated on Tuesday that the Israeli airstrikes on an Iranian embassy compound in Damascus, Syria, resulting in the deaths of three top Iranian commanders, would not be left unanswered. Supporters of the government took to the streets demanding retaliation against Israel.
The attack on a section of the Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus claimed the lives of three generals from Iran’s Quds Force and four other officers, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran.
In a declaration, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, pledged that Israel would face consequences at the hands of their courageous men.
President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran condemned the assault as an “inhumane attack in clear violation of international law,” as reported by Tasnim, a semiofficial news agency. He affirmed that there would be a response, without specifying the nature of Iran’s retaliation.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, revealed on the social media platform X that Iran had urgently summoned the Swiss ambassador after midnight local time to deliver a crucial message to Washington: that as Israel’s ally, the “U.S. must be held accountable” for Israel’s actions. Switzerland serves as the intermediary for the United States in the absence of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.
The spokesperson for Iran’s Parliament leadership, Seyyed Nezamoldin Mousavi, conveyed to Iranian state media that “a fitting retaliation is a national demand from the people of Iran.”
In Washington, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, clarified that “the United States was not involved in the airstrike” and had no foreknowledge of it.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the message had been directly communicated to Iran.
Across various cities in Iran, including Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan, large gatherings unfurled Palestinian and Iranian flags, demanding retribution. Chants of “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” echoed through the crowds, with raised fists warning of the potential for a jihad against Israel if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commanded it.
The airstrikes in Damascus on Monday coincided with two significant holidays in Iran: a religious Shia observance commemorating the death of Imam Ali, and a national day celebrating nature, where people venture outdoors on the 13th day of Norouz, the Iranian New Year.
Opponents of the government congregated in parks in northern Tehran during the nature celebrations, engaging in picnics, dancing, and singing until they were dispersed by security forces, as seen in videos on social media and BBC Persian.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled an urgent meeting on Tuesday afternoon to address Israel’s assault, following a request from Russia, a close ally of Iran.
Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, denounced the attack on diplomatic premises as a breach of international law and the U.N. charter, posing a threat to regional peace and stability.
It remained unclear how Iran would respond to Israel’s airstrikes: whether through a direct military strike against Israel, risking escalation with both Israel and the United States, or by continuing to support militant groups in the region.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia backed by Iran, affirmed through Iran state media that “this crime will not go unpunished, and the enemy will face revenge.”
Eric Schmitt contributed reporting.
