UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the recent attack on Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria’s capital, following similar condemnation from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan.
Several Arab nations, including Egypt, Kuwait and Lebanon also condemned the widely-believed Israeli air strike, which hit a building next to the Islamic Republic’s alleged diplomatic premise in Damascus.
In an interview with CNN however, the IDF chief spokesman Daniel Hagari said according to Israeli intelligence, the building was not a consulate nor an embassy.
According to Iran’s state media and its foreign ministry, the Israeli airstrike killed seven officials, including IRGC top commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and IRGC senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
In response to the attack, Guterres also said the “inviolability of diplomatic, consular premises, personnel must be respected in all cases”.
The Taliban meanwhile denounced the attack via a spokesperson saying that it “considers Israel's attack on the consular branch of the embassy of the Islamic Republic in Damascus a clear violation of diplomatic norms and a provocative act."
IRGC commanders do not enjoy the immunity diplomats are offered.
While it was alleged that "several long-serving" diplomats were also killed, no names were provided and it has yet to be confirmed by independent media.
Monday’s airstrike coincided with a public holiday for Iranian officials, who commemorate the death anniversary of the first Shiite Islamic Imam, and the embassy should have been closed.
Although Israel has not taken responsibility for the strike, Iran International sources say it was an Israeli operation.
UN Chief Guterres further called on all “concerned to exercise utmost restraint” and “avoid further escalation”.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and all top officials have condemned the attack vowing revenge at a time of their own choosing.
