Hezbollah chief says Tehran's retaliation to Israeli attack on Iranian generals in Damascus 'inevitable'

By Wassim Saifuldine

BEIRUT (AA) - Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Friday called the recent Israeli attack on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus a turning point, saying Tehran's retaliation is “inevitable.”

“The attack constitutes a turning point since the outbreak of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023,” Nasrallah said in a recorded speech on the occasion of International Quds Day.

"We can infer from the words of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei that the Iranian response to this attack is inevitable," he added.

In this context, Nasrallah pointed out that "the Israeli enemy has begun to take precautions fearing the Iranian response," adding that "its timing, location, and magnitude are in the hands of Iranian leaders."

At least seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two top generals, were killed in an attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus on Monday.

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed to respond to the deadly strike.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Israeli media, authorities in Tel Aviv are considering opening shelters amid Iranian threats of retaliation.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army decided to call up reserve soldiers to its Aerial Defense Array, in a move called by local media a precautionary measure against possible retaliatory attacks from Iran.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul