Iran threatens Israel after two generals killed in strike on Damascus

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the latest to threaten Israel with retaliation a day after two Iranian generals were killed in a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.

"The malicious regime will be punished by our brave men," he said on Tuesday in a statement.

The attack destroyed an annex next to the Iranian embassy that served as the consulate in the Mezzeh neighbourhood of western Damascus.

The two brigadier generals, Mohammad Reza Sahedi and his deputy Mohammad Hadi Haji, were killed, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Monday evening. Sahedi was responsible for operations in Syria and Lebanon, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

In total, 11 people were killed including five more IRGC members.

"We will make sure that they regret this and similar crimes, God willing," Khamenei said.

His comments came after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi strongly condemned the attack and threatened to respond to what he called a "terrorist crime."

Raisi termed Monday's attack a "gross violation of international rules" and warned that this "treacherous crime will not go unanswered," the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

A Swiss diplomatic representative was called in to hand over an "important diplomatic note" to the United States regarding the airstrike, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The co-responsibility of the United States had been stressed in the meeting with the representative, Amirabdollahian posted. Further details were not provided. Switzerland has represented US interests in Tehran since diplomatic ties were cut some 24 years ago.

The pro-Iranian Lebanese militia Hezbollah also emphasized that the attack would not be without consequences.

"Surely this crime will not pass without the enemy experiencing punishment and revenge," Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday. The Israeli enemy still believes that eliminating leaders can stop the people's determined resistance, it said.

Iran is Hezbollah's largest supporter in Lebanon. The Shiite militia fights politically but also violently opn the ground against Israel. It is one of Iran's “Axis of Resistance.”

With its own militia, it primarily controls the south of Lebanon on the border with Israel, Shiite-inhabited districts of the capital Beirut and the Bekaa Valley in the north of the country.

Hezbollah is also active in Syria, fighting alongside the government troops of President Bashar Al-Assad.

China also issued a strong condemnation of a suspected Israeli air attack.

"China condemns the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing. The security of diplomatic institutions must not be violated, and the sovereignty and independence of Syria must be respected, he added.

China opposed all actions leading to increased tensions, Wang said.

The Israeli government has not commented on the strikes in line with regular practice following attacks outside Israel's borders.

Iran and Israel see each other as archenemies, with the IRGC playing a key role in supporting anti-Israeli forces in Syria and Lebanon.

The Israeli Air Force repeatedly bombs targets in neighbouring Syria in an attempt to prevent Iran and its allied militias such as the Lebanese Hezbollah from expanding their military influence in the country.

Attacks have increased since the Gaza war began almost six months ago. Late on Sunday, Syria said Israel attacked an area near Damascus with four missiles, wounding two civilians.