The Israeli army has confirmed that the victims of the strike against the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 were “terrorists” who posed a threat to Israel. This was the first official comment from the army regarding the attack. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari revealed that those killed were members of the Quds Force, Hezbollah, and Iranian aides – individuals engaged in terrorism against Israel. He emphasized that there were no diplomats or civilians among the casualties.
The strike on April 1 destroyed the Iranian consulate and resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including seven members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, with two being senior officers. While Iran and Syria accused Israel of carrying out the attack, Israel never officially confirmed its responsibility. In response to the strike, Iran launched a significant missile and drone attack on Israel from its territory, which was intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.
Israel, alongside the United States and other countries, successfully intercepted the majority of the projectiles, with only minor damage occurring at the Nevatim military base in southern Israel. During a visit to the base on Monday, Herzi Halevi promised a retaliatory response to the Iranian attack. The incident has escalated tensions in the region, occurring during a period of conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip.