Israeli attack on Iranian embassy in Syria provoked Iranian reaction

The attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, was what provoked the Iranian reaction on Saturday (April 13, 2024) against Israel. In a statement, Iran stated that it carried out the operation in self-defense as a response to the April 1 event.

Israel did not confirm responsibility for the act at the time, but it also did not deny it. The Syrian and Iranian governments blamed the Israelis for the deaths. Among the 8 dead was the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Shortly after the attack, Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, declared that Israel’s movement would not stand “no reply”. In a statement, he said that the country “blatantly violated international law by committing the terrorist crime of attacking the diplomatic building” and, therefore, would have to face the “growing strength of the resistance front”.

That’s when the US warned Iran not to retaliate for the attack. The request was made at a meeting of the UN Security Council (United Nations) by the representative of the North American government, Roberto Wood. He emphasized the need for the Iranians to avoid a possible escalation of tensions in the region, highlighting that there was no confirmation of who was responsible for the attack.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on April 10 that Israel would be punished. In a speech during an event that marked the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, he said that “qWhen the Zionist regime attacks an Iranian consulate in Syria, it is as if it had attacked Iranian soil. This malicious regime made a wrong decision. Must be punished and will be punished”.

On Friday (April 12), one day before the attack, local media had publicized the planning of the Iranian operation as a retaliatory measure for the air attack in Damascus.

IRAN X ISRAEL

The April 13, 2024, Iranian attack was expected. The country had promised to retaliate against the Israelis for the bombing that killed 8 people at the Iranian embassy in Damascus (Syria), on April 1, including a Revolutionary Guard general. Countries blamed Israel, even though the country did not take responsibility.

According to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), around 300 drones and missiles were launched by Iran. Israel claims that fighters from the country and allies, such as the USA and the United Kingdom, and the Iron Dome defense system intercepted 99% of the aerial targets.

Next, read more about the attack and its reflexes:

• What did Israel say? – who will respond at the right time;
• What did Iran say? – who acted in self-defense;
• reactions around the world – the G7, a group with 7 of the largest economies on the planet, condemned the attack “unprecedented” and reinforced its commitment to Israel’s security;
• Brazil’s reaction – Itamaraty said it was monitoring the situation with “concern” and did not condemn Iranian action;
• Brazil disappointed – Israel’s ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Zonshine, told Poder360 who was disappointed with the Brazilian note;
• Brazil got it right – for former minister and career diplomat Rubens Ricupero, Itamaraty got the tone right. Spoke to Poder360 that there are no reasons for the country “take a position on one side or the other”;
• non-oil impact – a possible war between Iran and Israel should increase the price of the commodity and pressure Petrobras to increase fuel;
• videos – see images of the Iranian attack.