Sayyed Reza Mousavi, a high-ranking commander within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for operations in Syria and Lebanon, reportedly fell victim to an Israeli airstrike in Syria on Monday. According to The Jerusalem Post, explosions occurred in the Set Zaynab area of Damascus countryside, with videos on social media capturing a plume of smoke near Damascus International Airport, often targeted by Israel due to its utilization by Iran-backed proxies.
Iranian state-owned broadcaster Press TV confirmed Mousavi's death, identifying him as a "senior advisor" in Syria. The report highlighted his close association with Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020. Israeli media has characterized Mousavi's death as the most significant targeted killing since Soleimani.
In response to the incident, Iran has vowed retaliation for Mousavi's killing. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the act, asserting that the "usurper and savage Zionist regime" would face consequences for the perceived crime. Raisi attributed the Israeli action to frustration, helplessness, and the perceived inability of the occupying Zionist regime.
