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 battle in Gaza might 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 pressure in Lebanon and Syria that may be a frequent adversary of Israel’s.
Israel, adopting its customary stance, declined to remark straight on Iran’s accusation that it was behind the killing. However Israel’s protection minister, Yoav Gallant, mentioned on Tuesday that the nation was already “in a multifront battle” and “coming beneath assault from seven theaters,” naming Gaza, the West Financial institution, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.
“We’ve already responded and brought motion in six of those theaters,” he advised lawmakers.
Israel is waging a significant battle 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 battle by concentrating on vessels.
In confirming Basic Mousavi’s killing, on a farm exterior Damascus, Hezbollah described him as a “expensive brother.” The semiofficial Iranian information company Fars mentioned that Israel would “pay for this crime unquestionably.” Varied information shops mentioned he was killed on Monday.
With each Iran and Hezbollah accusing Israel, the Israeli armed forces have been placed on excessive alert on Sunday for the prospect of Iranian retaliation, one navy official mentioned. The navy, the official mentioned, expects the potential use of rockets or drones launched from Syria and Lebanon at Israel.
And extra street closures have been anticipated in northern Israel, the place some routes had already been shut down due to the preventing with Hezbollah.
Basic Mousavi was described as having been an in depth affiliate of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a extremely in style Iranian safety intelligence commander who was killed by a U.S. strike in Baghdad in 2020. In asserting Basic Mousavi’s demise, Fars revealed {a photograph} of him and Basic Suleimani posing shut collectively.
Vivian Yee, Hwaida Saad and Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.
