An Iranian general from the Revolutionary Guards Corps has been killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike near Aleppo, Syria, according to reports from Iranian media outlets. The strike took place in the early hours of Monday morning.
من مقام السيدة رقية بدمشق القديمة.. يتم الآن التحضير لشحن المستشار في ميليشيا الحرس الثوري الإيراني سعيد آبيار وقيادي آخر، إلى طهران،
المجرمان كانا قد قُتلا بالقصف الإسرائيلي الأخير على ريف حلب. pic.twitter.com/LMIjO0lGPc
— Mohammad (@Mohamaddsyrien) June 3, 2024
The general was identified as Saeed Abyar by Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards. Abyar had been deployed to Syria serving in an advisory role to military forces there. This is believed to be the first time Israel has killed an Iranian since the two nations came precipitously close to war just two months ago in April.
The April crisis was sparked when Israel allegedly bombed Iran's embassy compound in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of several Iranian commanders. Iran retaliated fiercely, launching a barrage of 300 drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israel. Israel then struck an Iranian military base with missile strikes of its own.
While Iranian military forces have been operating in Syria for years now in support of the Assad regime, the killing of General Abyar risks escalating tensions between Iran and Israel yet again. The two adversaries have engaged in a shadow conflict across the region, with Israel working to prevent Iran from solidifying its influence in Syria and elsewhere. Tehran is likely to come under pressure to respond forcefully to this latest provocation.
