Attack in Damascus – Iranian President calls for retaliation and threatens Israel “Smoked out”: Thailand wants to ban cannabis again – wherever in the world it is still legal

What happened?

The Syrian capital Damascus has reportedly been attacked by Israel. At least six people were killed, activists said. The four-story building that came under attack was completely destroyed, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday. According to the activists, officials loyal to Iran had met there. Photos on social media showed a destroyed house on the side of the road

The Israeli Air Force repeatedly bombs targets in neighboring Syria. Israel wants to prevent its arch-enemy Iran and its allied militias from expanding their military influence in the country. Iran is one of Syria’s most important allies. The number of Israeli attacks has increased since the start of the Gaza war in early October.

What was the purpose of the attack?

According to Iranian sources, several supporters of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were killed in the airstrike. The state broadcaster reported this on Saturday. The channel’s Arabic department reported that two senior advisers were among the dead. According to information from the Iranian news agency ‘More’, the Iranians were officers of the IRGC secret service. According to the activists, a meeting of officials loyal to Iran took place there.

Experts and observers believe that the world is currently facing a dangerous shadow conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. Shortly after the terrorist attack on Israel by the Islamist Hamas on October 7, the country’s leadership praised the attack as an act of defiance, but vehemently rejected any direct involvement.

What does Israel say?

Syria’s state news agency Sana reported an attack on a residential building that was “the result of Israeli aggression.” The Israeli military initially made no comment.

Response from Iran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has threatened Israel’s arch-enemy with retaliation after the suspected Israeli airstrike in Syria. The Islamic Republic will not leave the “crime of the Zionist regime” unanswered, state radio quoted Raisi on Saturday.

Iran, together with Russia, is the Syrian government’s most important ally. Israel regularly attacks targets in the neighboring civil war country to prevent Iran from expanding its military influence there with the help of militias. Officially, Iran is only active in Syria as an advisor. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is Iran’s elite military force and is considered significantly more powerful than the regular army. The unit, founded after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, aims to prevent a coup and protect state ideology. In recent decades, the IRGC has also become an economic power. The IRGC also operates abroad with the so-called Al-Kuds Brigades. (sda/dpa)

(cst/sda/dpa)