The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that seven officers, including brigadier generals Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, were killed in the airstrike on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on Monday. Iran has already vowed that it will take “countermeasures” against the United States and Israel over the recent deadly airstrike in Syria.

Officials in Syria and Iran have blamed Israel for the attack, thereby also blaming the U.S. ruling class. “The Islamic Republic of Iran, while reserving its rights to take countermeasures, decides on the type of reaction and punishment of the aggressor,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement quoted by the IRNA news agency and as reported by RT.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned on X (formerly Twitter) that Israel’s close ally the U.S. “must be held accountable.”

Tehran is warning of a “serious response,” and the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said that the strike will be met with “punishment and revenge.” Iran also said it would hold the United States “answerable” due to its support of Israel.

Israel has not publically commented on the strike. The Israeli government rarely publicly acknowledges airstrikes in Syria, which Damascus has repeatedly denounced as violations of its sovereignty.

The Jewish state has accused Iran of masterminding the deadly October 7 attack on Israeli citizens, which kickstarted the ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Last month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck what it said were Iran-linked militants in Lebanon.

Tehran has pledged to continue its support for Hamas and other Palestinian groups, but insisted that Hamas had independently decided to invade Israeli territory. –RT

Middle East War: Israel Says The Operation In Gaza Will “Shift”

This attack has escalated regional tensions over the war in Gaza and has once again appeared to raise the risk of a broader Middle Eastern conflict. This could quickly spiral out of control, so be prepared for the advancement of war.