The Iranian Revolutionary Guard declared on its website that two of its soldiers stationed in Syria were killed in an Israeli attack on Saturday. The two members were identified as Mohammad Ali Ataei Shourcheh and Panah Taghizadeh, and were on an advisory mission in Syria. The attack reportedly hit several areas on the outskirts of Damascus, causing only material losses, according to Syrian state media.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attacks hit the suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus, where forces were working with the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. The attack killed two Syrians, two foreigners, and injured five others.
This latest incident is likely to increase tensions between Israel and Iran, which has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian militia Hamas. Iran’s military presence in Syria has been a major concern for Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment along its northern border. Syria has accused Israel of carrying out hundreds of attacks on government-controlled areas in recent years, something Israel has rarely acknowledged.
Iran has been one of the main supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s 12-year civil war. Thousands of Iranian-backed fighters have been deployed in Syria, helping to tilt the balance of power in Assad’s favor.
Several members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have died during the war in Syria, although Tehran has long claimed to only have a military advisory role there. Since the war between Israel and Hamas began, Israel has carried out several attacks on Syria, temporarily shutting down the international airports in Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo for over a month. This constant conflict between Israel and Iran in Syria is creating a threat to peace and stability in the region.
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