Iranian consulate airstrike in Damascus

2024 Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
Part of Israel–Hamas war, Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
Iranian embassy compound after the attack: destroyed consular building on the right, adjacent to embassy building
Location	Damascus, Syria 33°30′13″N 36°15′37″E
Target	Iranian consulate in Damascus
Date	1 April 2024 (2024-04-01) c. 17:00 (UTC+3)
Executed by	Israel
Casualties	16 killed 7 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps soldiers 5 Iran-backed militiamen 1 Hezbollah fighter 1 Iranian advisor 2 civilians
Location of Consulate in Syria

On 1 April 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killing 16 people, including a senior Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and seven other IRGC officers.

The airstrike took place during a period of heightened tension between Israel and Iran, and amidst Israel's ongoing war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has vowed revenge for the attack.

Background

See also: Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war

Since 2013 Iran has maintained a presence of its troops in Syria in response to the Syrian civil war of which Syria is crucial ally of Iran. Additionally, it has been involved in training and funding paramilitary forces from Hezbollah, along with foreign militias from Iraq and Afghanistan, not only in Syria but also in neighboring Lebanon. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah assets within the country.

With the onset of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, Israel has increased its intensity of attacks on Syria. From 12 to 22 October 2023, Israel launched at least three attacks on airports in Syria, particularly on Damascus and Aleppo. Notably, Israel carried out the assassination of Razi Mousavi, a senior Iranian general, in the Syrian capital of Damascus on 25 December 2023, and Brigadier General Sadegh Omidzadeh, an intelligence officer with the IRGC Quds Force, on 20 January 2024.

Attack

On 1 April 2024, the Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Iranian ambassador Hossein Akbari alleged that the consulate building "was targeted with six missiles from Israeli F-35 warplanes".

The suspected primary target of the attack was the Quds Force commander of the IRGC, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was killed in the attack. According to The Guardian, Zahedi was a critical figure in the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah. The New York Times reported that an anonymous source from the Revolutionary Guards said that the strike targeted a meeting between Iranian intelligence officials and Palestinian militants, including leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who were discussing the war in Gaza.

Footage and photos from the consulate area after the attack showed extensive damage, fire, and smoke. Iranian media reported that the building had been completely destroyed and that the ambassador and his family, who were housed in the embassy next door, were unharmed.

Casualties

Sixteen were killed in total, including seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers, five Iran-backed militiamen, one Hezbollah fighter, one Iranian advisor, and two civilians.

In addition to Zahedi, casualties included Zahedi's deputy Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi and five Iranian officials: Hossein Aman Elahi, Sayid Mehdi Jalalati, Ali Agha Babaei, Sayid Ali Salehi Roozbahani, and Mohsen Sedaghat. Zahedi was the most senior IRGC officer to be killed since the assassination of Qasem Soleimani by the U.S. in January 2020.

Aftermath

Ali Khamenei leading the funeral for the slain IRGC soldiers on 4 April

In several cities across Iran, including the capital, Tehran, as well as Tabriz and Isfahan, large crowds of protesters gathered waving Palestinian and Iranian flags and demanding revenge.

Seven Israeli embassies were evacuated in response to the potential threat of an Iranian retaliatory attack, after Iran publicly blamed Israel and vowed retaliation. The IDF deployed GPS jamming systems within Tel Aviv to safeguard against potential aerial attacks by Iran. Initial U.S. intelligence anticipated a significant attack on U.S. or Israeli assets as soon as the week of April 8–12.

Legality

Diplomatic premises, like homes and schools, are considered "civilian objects" under international law, and they are not permissible as targets unless they are used for a military purpose. Diplomatic buildings are entitled to further protections from attack or other interference by the host country under international customary law, codified in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Convention on Consular Relations. It is the obligation of the country in which an embassy is located to protect the embassy, but international treaties do not expressly prohibit a third country to target diplomatic premises if they host combatants and are targeted in an act of self-defense, although a claim of self-defense cannot usually justify an attack on the territory of a country not participating in hostilities.

According to Aurel Sari, a professor of international law at Exeter University in the United Kingdom:

An Israeli airstrike carried out within Syria without its consent would be in contravention of Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits a state from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other state... Unless Israel were able to justify any airstrike as an act of self-defense, it would be in violation of international law.

Reactions

• Iran: Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, vowed a harsh response to the attack. Khamenei's political advisor Ali Shamkhani, said that the United States "remains directly responsible whether or not it was aware of the intention to carry out this attack". Iran also sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council, saying it "reserves its legitimate and inherent right to respond decisively".
• Israel: Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesman, told reporters: "According to our intelligence, this is neither a consulate nor an embassy." He further added that the target struck was a "military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian structure in Damascus". Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defense, said that "Israel is working to make it clear to everyone who acts against us, all over the Middle East, that the price for acting against Israel will be a heavy price." Israel told the U.S. that if Iran were to launch an attack from its territory against Israel in retaliation, it would prompt a robust response from Israel, potentially escalating the current conflict to a higher intensity.
• Syria: Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad condemned the airstrike, calling it a "terrorist attack" which had killed "innocents".

International

• China: The country condemned the attack, with the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying: "The security of diplomatic institutions cannot be violated, and Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected".
• Kuwait: The ministry of foreign affairs has condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law.
• Lebanon: The ministry of foreign affairs condemned the attack, stating that the attack was a "breach of international law and a serious violation of the Vienna agreements for diplomatic and consular relations".
• Oman: The foreign ministry called the attacks a breach of Syrian sovereignty, international law and diplomatic and consular immunities.
• Pakistan: The country condemned the attack, stating that "the attack is an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of Syria and undermines its stability and security."
• Qatar: The country strongly condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims of the attack.
• Russia: The country strongly condemned the attack, with a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing it as unacceptable. It also requested the UN Security Council to discuss the strike.
• Saudi Arabia: The foreign ministry stated that "The Kingdom's categorical rejection of targeting diplomatic facilities for any justification, and under any pretext".
• United Arab Emirates: The country condemned the targeting of the Iranian diplomatic missions.
• United States: The country announced that it had no involvement in or advance knowledge about the strike by Israel.
• Vietnam: The country condemned the attack, with the Foreign Affairs spokeperson Pham Thu Hang citing the 1961 Vienna Convention on the protection and respect of diplomatic representatives and facilities, however without directly mentioning Israel in its statement.

Supranational

• Arab League: The league has condemned the attack, saying that it violated Syrian sovereignty.
• European Union: expressed concern about any further escalations and urges "restraint" after the attack.
• GCC: General-Secretary Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi denounced the attack.
• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation: The secretary-general Hissein Brahim Taha strongly condemned the aggression, expressing solidarity with the people and government of Iran.
• United Nations: The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said: "Attacks from the outside on any country are a violation of sovereignty. We have condemned these attacks and will continue to do so."