Mohammad Ali Atai Shoorcheh and Panah Taghizadeh. Click to see full-size image.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that two of its officers were killed in Israeli strikes that targeted Syria early on December 2.
The Israeli strikes hit several positions near the Syrian capital, Damascus, including a building in the town of Set Zaynab where the IRGC and its affiliates maintain a presence. The Iranian officers were most likely killed there.
In a statement, the IRGC said that Mohammad Ali Atai Shoorcheh and Panah Taghizadeh were “martyred” while on an advisory mission to Syria, holding the “Zionist regime” responsible for their death. Both officers apparently held the rank of Second Brigadier General.
The IRGC maintains a large presence in Syria to advise and assist government forces. Its officers were targeted by Israel on several occasions in the past. However, the last attack came amid high tensions in the Middle East over the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
Israel stepped up its attacks on Syria significantly since the outbreak of the war with the Hamas Movement and other Palestinian armed factions in Gaza.
The attack on the Iranian officers represents a serious escalation. It may be an attempt by Israel to drag Iran, which will certainly respond, into a regional confrontation. This would force the United States to provide Israel with even more support.
