Iran accused Israel on Monday of killing a high-level navy determine in a missile strike in Syria at a time when considerations are rising that the struggle in Gaza may escalate right into a regional battle.
The assassinated Iranian was recognized as Brig. Gen. Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. He was mentioned to have helped oversee the cargo of missiles and different arms to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed navy power in Lebanon and Syria that may be a frequent adversary of Israel’s.
Israel, adopting its customary stance, declined to remark straight on the accusations, however Israeli officers acknowledged that they had been making ready for the prospect of Iranian retaliation.
Israel is already waging a serious struggle in Gaza and skirmishing with Hezbollah fighters on its northern border with Lebanon. And on the Crimson Sea, in response to the Gaza battle, Yemen-based Houthi forces — additionally backed by Iran — have been widening the conflict by concentrating on vessels.
In confirming Normal Mousavi’s killing, on a farm outdoors Damascus, Hezbollah described him as a “dear brother.” The semiofficial Iranian information company Fars mentioned that Israel would “pay for this crime without a doubt.” Numerous information shops mentioned he was killed on Monday.
Whereas Israeli officers declined to touch upon who was behind the killing, they confirmed that the final was useless.
“I am not referring to this or that operation in the Middle East reported by non-Israeli media,” mentioned Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. chief spokesman of the Israeli Protection Forces. “The I.D.F. has a role, of course: to protect and safeguard the security interests of the state of Israel.”
With each Iran and Hezbollah accusing Israel, the Israeli armed forces had been placed on excessive alert on Sunday, one navy official mentioned. The navy, the official mentioned, expects the attainable use of rockets or drones launched from Syria and Lebanon at Israel.
And extra highway closures had been anticipated in northern Israel, the place some routes had already been shut down due to the combating with Hezbollah.
Normal Mousavi was described as having been a detailed affiliate of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a extremely standard Iranian safety intelligence commander who was killed by a U.S. strike in Baghdad in 2020. In asserting Normal Mousavi’s demise, Fars revealed {a photograph} of him and Normal Suleimani posing shut collectively.
Vivian Yee and Hwaida Saad contributed reporting.
