Iran blames Israel for airstrikes on Damascus that killed top Iranian commanders

20 January 2024 , 20:52

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Buildings destroyed in the strike in Damascus (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Israel has been blamed for an air strike on Syria which is said to have killed five senior members of Iran’s security forces.

Iran pointed the finger at the Israelis for the hit yesterday on Syrian capital Damascus, which it reportedly said killed its military advisers.

The strike destroyed a building used by the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state media said. Footage showed smoke billowing into the city’s skyline. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 10 fighters were killed, including five Iranians – three of them Revolutionary Guard com­­manders.

Rescuers in Damascus (AFP via Getty Images)

The UK-based group said others inc­­luded three Syrians working for Iranian-backed militias, and Iraqis and Lebanese.

Labour MP apologises for branding Israeli government 'fascist' in Parliament

Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy yesterday backed a Palestinian state – hitting out at Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We are committed to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

“We want to work with international partners to achieve that. A number of countries in the developed world say they believe the time has come. Obviously you’re doing that in conjunction with that two-state solution that is required. This is a critical moment, we’ve got to seize that.”

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy (PA)

Netanyahu has vowed to press on with his attacks “until complete victory”, saying he had told the US he opposed establishing a Palestinian state once he was done.

Mr Lammy said: “Netanyahu’s words were unacceptable. The Palestinian people deserve a state.

“If they don’t, the consequence is either one state – in which Benjamin Netanyahu would have to explain how [they] live side-by-side with equal rights – or occupation and siege continue.”

Retired general Gadi Eisenkot, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, reportedly said this week that those advocating “absolute defeat” of Hamas were not “speaking the truth”.

Simon Murphy