Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Retaliation
Tehran calls Israeli attack on Damascus 'cowardly crime'
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation against Israel and the United States for an Israeli airstrike on Damascus that killed 15 people, including high-ranking Iranian officers.
"The Zionist regime and its supporters will pay the price for their crimes," Khamenei said in a statement released on Monday. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow these cowardly crimes to go unanswered."
The Israeli airstrike, which was carried out on Sunday night, targeted a military complex in the Mazzeh district of Damascus. The Syrian government condemned the attack as a "flagrant violation of international law" and accused Israel of trying to sabotage efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict.
Iran, which is a close ally of Syria, also condemned the attack and vowed to respond. "We will not tolerate such aggression against our allies," said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. "We will stand with the Syrian people and help them defend their sovereignty."
The United States has denied any involvement in the Israeli airstrike. However, Washington has long accused Iran of supporting terrorism in the region and has imposed sanctions on Tehran in an attempt to curb its influence.
The Israeli airstrike is likely to further escalate tensions between Iran and Israel. The two countries have been at odds for decades, and the conflict has spilled over into neighboring countries, including Syria and Lebanon.
The airstrike also comes at a sensitive time for the region. The United States is currently negotiating a new nuclear deal with Iran, and the airstrike could complicate those efforts. The United States is also trying to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and the airstrike could make that more difficult.
Analysts say that the airstrike is a clear message from Israel that it will not tolerate Iran's growing influence in the region. However, it is also a dangerous move that could lead to a wider conflict.