Chairman of Parliament's Commission Calls Israeli Statistics on Attacks in Syria a 'Bluff'

Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the Chairman of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, rejected reports regarding Israeli attacks on Iranian positions in Syria, emphasizing that 'the statistics from the Zionist regime are a bluff.' Mr. Falahatpisheh did not clearly specify which statistics he was referring to. The parliament member stated that he was present at the site a few hours after one of these attacks and added: 'The Zionists [Israeli officials] claim that their actions are against the Islamic Republic of Iran, while these attacks are against Syria and the defensive, infrastructural, and security facilities of this country.' The Israeli army announced on January 21 that it had targeted the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported last Monday that Israeli attacks in Syria have left 21 dead so far, 12 of whom were members of the 'Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.' This was the latest in a series of air or missile attacks by Israel on Syria in recent months, reportedly targeting positions and military bases belonging to the Islamic Republic or forces close to Iran. Official Iranian authorities have not reacted to this statement and news. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh also criticized Russia, stating that 'the S-300 air defense systems deployed by Russia in Syria become inactive during Israeli attacks.' According to the Chairman of the National Security Commission, 'there seems to be some coordination between the attacks of the Zionist regime and the Russian air defense systems stationed in Syria.' Falahatpisheh believes that if the Russian S-300 systems function properly, Israel cannot easily carry out attacks on Syrian territory. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, called the recent Israeli missile attacks on Syria 'unilateral' and demanded their immediate cessation. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh stated that the aim of Israel's military actions in Syria is 'to disrupt the process of stabilizing Syria.' He noted, 'They want to force Iran to respond in a way that creates a new challenge in Syria.' Following the latest Israeli attack on Syria, Israel warned the country to refrain from retaliatory actions against its territory or forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country's 'consistent policy' is 'to attack Iranian bases in Syria and strike anyone who tries to harm us,' asserting that this policy 'will not change.' The Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on January 15 in response to recent Israeli officials' remarks that 'Iran will maintain what it has in Syria.' Aziz Nasirzadeh, the Commander of the Iranian Air Force, also stated on January 21 that 'the youth of the Air Force are eagerly and wholeheartedly ready to fight the Zionist regime and eliminate them from the face of the earth.' Iran claims to have entered the campaign in Syria at the request of the Syrian government and for 'the fight against terrorism.' However, Israel, which demands the complete withdrawal of all Iranian forces from Syria, believes Tehran's goal is to stabilize its presence near Israel's borders and threaten the country. The Syrian civil war began in 2011, has left over half a million dead, and displaced more than half of the country's population.