A Political Group in Iran Emphasizes Mohammad Reza Zahidi's Role in Hamas Attacks on Israel

A political group in Iran known as the "Coalition Council of Islamic Revolutionary Forces" reiterated on Thursday, April 5, the "prominent role" of Mohammad Reza Zahidi in what it termed the "formation of the resistance front" against Israel and also the "Operation Storm of Al-Aqsa," referring to the Hamas militants' attacks on this country on October 7. Iranian military and political officials use the term "resistance front" to describe Tehran's proxy groups in the Middle East. The Coalition Council of Islamic Revolutionary Forces, which is considered one of the conservative organizations in Iran, referenced the "official statement of the Al-Qassam Brigades," the military wing of Hamas, regarding the commander of the Quds Force (Lebanon and Syria branch). The statement from Hamas's military wing, a group supported by the Islamic Republic, noted that Mohammad Reza Zahidi has had a "prominent role" in these two areas for "many years." The Coalition Council had previously issued a statement on Wednesday regarding Zahidi's role. This commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in Syria and Lebanon along with several other commanders on April 2, following an attack attributed to Israel in Damascus. The Islamic Republic has identified Israel as the perpetrator of this attack, and the Supreme Leader and other senior political and military officials have threatened that this attack will not go unanswered. An account attributed to Ali Khamenei on the social media platform "X" also threatened on Wednesday, April 5, in a post in Hebrew that Israel would regret its "crime of aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus." Israel has continued its usual practice of refraining from commenting on attacks attributed to it against the positions of the Islamic Republic and its proxy forces in Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Israel will respond to efforts to harm the country and its people and is prepared for a potential Iranian response to the attack attributed to Israel. Speaking after a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden during a security cabinet meeting, he noted that "Iran has been acting directly and through its proxies against us for years," adding: "Therefore, Israel will act defensively and offensively against Iran and its operatives." Netanyahu stated: "We know how to defend ourselves and will act based on this simple principle: we will harm those who harm us or intend to harm us." Alim Saleh remarked that despite Hamas's praise for Mohammad Reza Zahidi, it cannot be said that the Islamic Republic played a role in the October 7 attack. Barbara Slavin commented that Zahidi's death was a severe blow comparable to that of Qassem Soleimani. Israel's military aircraft are "ready for defense and attack." The temporary cancellation of leave for Israeli combat units; Iranian proxies in Syria are on high alert. Strengthening Israel's air defense system following the Islamic Republic's threat of "severe punishment"; the army is on standby. Doubts about the "diplomatic" nature of the destroyed building in Damascus; the U.S. is "busy gathering information." An analytical report from Reuters on the Iranian government's options for "revenge against Israel"; however, all of them carry risks.