In a strong message to Israel, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, condemned the killing of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) adviser in Syria. Bagheri labeled the attack as a "strategic mistake" that will not go unanswered.

On Monday, Mousavi was killed in an airstrike outside Damascus, the Syrian capital. The confirmation of his death was provided by three security sources to Reuters. Bagheri, in a message reported by the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, accused Israel of violating Syria's sovereignty and international conventions with the attack.

Bagheri further described the attack on Mousavi as a desperate attempt by the "Zionist regime" to divert attention from its actions in Gaza. He expressed his belief that these actions would only serve to isolate Israel further. The warning of retaliation from Bagheri and other Iranian officials has raised concerns about the escalation of conflict in the region.

Mousavi, a key figure in the Iran-Syria military alliance and reportedly the chief coordinator of the alliance, was described by Iranian state television as having been associated with Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in August 2020.

Iran was quick to respond to Mousavi's killing, issuing a warning to Israel on Monday. The IRGC stated in a statement, "The usurper and savage Zionist regime will pay for this crime." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi echoed this sentiment, affirming that Israel would "certainly pay the price" for Mousavi's death, viewing it as a sign of weakness on the part of the Israeli regime.

While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not confirmed responsibility for the attack, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari chose not to comment on foreign reports, emphasizing the military's role in protecting Israel's security interests.

According to Iran's Ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, Mousavi was posted at the Iranian embassy in Damascus as a diplomat. Reports suggest that he was targeted on his way home from work by Israeli missiles.

The killing of Sayyed Razi Mousavi adds fuel to the already tense relationship between Iran and Israel. As both countries exchange threats, the region remains on edge, fearing further escalation of the conflict.

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