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Iran vows retribution for Israeli strike on Damascus consulate — supreme leader

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cursed "the leaders of the repressive and aggressive regime," referring to Israel

DUBAI, April 2. /TASS/. Iran will make Israel regret the strike it carried out on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing two high-ranking generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Armed Forces), Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

"This loathsome regime (meaning Israel - TASS) will face retribution from our brave people. We will make them regret this crime," Khamenei's press service quoted him as saying.

Iran's spiritual leader cursed "the leaders of the repressive and aggressive regime," referring to Israel.

On April 1, the Syrian SANA news agency reported that the Israeli Air Force struck a house in Damascus. Iranian media reported that the Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital was shelled. The IRGC public relations office reported the deaths of seven military advisers, Generals Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi along with five officers. According to Iranian state IRIB TV channel, Zahedi commanded the IRGC Quds Force units in Lebanon and Syria.

Russia has firmly condemned the Israeli attack on the consulate and requested a UN Security Council meeting on the issue. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi promised that the strike on the diplomatic mission would not go unanswered. An Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman refused to give TASS a comment on the Israeli military strike on Damascus.

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