Iran Mourns Guards Killed in Alleged Israeli Strike. Women gather around the flag-draped coffins of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard members who were killed in an air strike in Syria, during their funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran.
Hundreds Mourn fallen Iranian Revolutionary Guard Members
On January 22, hundreds gathered in Tehran to mourn the loss of Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria. Iran claimed the deaths resulted from an Israeli strike, escalating regional tensions amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Military Force Confirms Five Deaths in Damascus Strike
The strike in Damascus claimed the lives of five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the group’s intelligence chief for Syria and his deputy, as reported by Iranian media. Mourners carried their coffins draped in the Iranian flag and surrounded a stage adorned with images of IRGC General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by the United States three years ago.
Funeral Processions Planned for Fallen IRGC Members
State media stated that funeral processions were arranged for three of the five IRGC members killed. When questioned about the strike, Israel’s military declined to comment on reports from foreign media.
Strike Details and Regional Tensions
Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the strike hit the Damascus neighborhood of Mazzeh, where leaders from the IRGC and pro-Iranian Palestinian factions reside. The strike followed Iran’s attack on an Israeli “intelligence headquarters” in Arbil, Iraq, and subsequent strikes on alleged Islamic State group targets in Syria.
The IRGC retaliated with an Iraq strike, citing Israeli actions as the reason, and also reported that an Israeli missile strike killed Razi Moussavi, a senior commander of the Quds Force, in Syria. Iran-backed Hezbollah mourned the loss of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri in a strike in southern Beirut, blaming Israel for the incident.
Retaliation and Escalating Conflict
Days later, a strike in southern Lebanon killed Wissam Tawil, the highest-ranking Hezbollah member to be killed since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas. Hezbollah, once again, pointed to Israel as the perpetrator.
As the tragedies continue to unfold, the region remains on edge, with each new incident adding to escalating tensions and fears of a wider, more catastrophic conflict.
Photo Credit: AP
