Developments Following the Killing of a Senior IRGC Member in Syria; Israel Prepares for Retaliatory Attack from the Islamic Republic

The Times of Israel, citing Hebrew-language media, reported that following the killing of a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Damascus, the Israeli security cabinet will convene on Monday night to discuss the latest developments at the northern border of the country with Lebanon. David Barak, a journalist from the American news website Axios, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) stating that Israel does not accept responsibility for the killing of Reza Mousavi. He quoted an Israeli official saying that this IRGC member was responsible for sending weapons from Iran to pro-Iranian militias in Syria as well as to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Reza Mousavi, known as 'Seyyed Reza,' was a veteran commander of the IRGC in Syria, who was killed in the Israeli attack on Damascus on Monday. The Israeli official told the Axios journalist that the country's army is preparing to confront retaliatory attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran, including from Syria and Lebanon. Ibrahim Raisi, the President of Iran, in response to the killing of Seyyed Reza Mousavi, warned that Israel will 'definitely' pay for it, referring to his close connection with Qassem Soleimani. Meanwhile, the IRGC issued a statement confirming the killing of this senior member and threatened that Israel will pay for it. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, warned in a post on X that 'Tel Aviv should expect a tough countdown.' He did not provide further details. Nasser Kanani, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, previously stated that the Islamic Republic reserves its rights to 'take necessary measures and respond to this action at the appropriate time and place.' In another development in the region, activities at Erbil International Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan were suspended following the downing of an explosive drone near the airport. Yahya Rasool, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Army, stated that this attack near Erbil Airport resulted in several injuries, suspended airport activities, and affected flight times. According to Rudaw TV, armed Shiite groups close to the Islamic Republic, calling themselves 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq,' claimed responsibility for the drone attack on Monday. Israel's airstrike targeted a Hezbollah operational command center. In response to missile attacks, Israel conducted artillery strikes on Syrian military positions. The Islamic Republic denied any involvement in attacks against American forces. The British Foreign Secretary stated that the Iranian government has a completely malevolent influence in the region and the world. The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden convinced Netanyahu to refrain from a 'preemptive attack' on Hezbollah. Twenty rockets were fired from Lebanese territory; Israel responded with air and artillery strikes against Hezbollah. Israel thwarted a 'cyber attack' by the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah on a hospital.