Israeli Strike In Damascus Takes Out Top Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander Reza Mousavi.
Close friend and confidant to Qassem Soleimani, eliminated almost 4 years ago to the day in a U.S. strike. Mousavi was “the central figure in everything related to the Iranian weapons corridor to Syria and Lebanon.”
On January 3, 2020 (local time), a U.S. airstrike took out Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Soleimani was the leader of the the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and the architect of Iran’s war on the West and Israel.
The assassination shook the world, and Iran threatened (and is still threatening) retaliation. Trump was not impressed with the threats: If Iran attacks, we will hit 52 Iranian sites “representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago”.
As we approached the anniversary of Soleimani’s demise, Israeli just took out one of his key aides, Reza Mousavi.
Mousavi reportedly was “a senior commander in IRGC Quds Force, he was responsible for IRGC logistical & financial channels in Syria,” which explains his presence in Damascus, and “a long time and close friend of Qassem Soleimani.”
Mousavi was a key Iranian figure:
He served as Iran’s logistical liaison (Revolutionary Guards/Quds Force) in Syria and was active in Syria for many years, possibly since the 1990s. Mousavi was actually the central figure in everything related to the Iranian weapons corridor to Syria and Lebanon, which includes the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Shiite militias in Syria. It is also possible that he was involved in arms smuggling (with an emphasis on “status violating” arms) from Syria, through Jordan towards the terrorist organizations in Judea and Samaria.
This reportedly is video from a distance of the strike.
Israel is declining to comment and is not asserting responsibility:
“I won’t comment on foreign reports, these or others in the Middle East,” IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in response to a reporter’s question at a nightly press conference. “The Israeli military obviously has a job to protect the security interests of Israel.”
Iran issued this statement:
“Israel will undoubtedly pay for this heinous crime. Without a doubt, this action is another sign of frustration, helplessness and incapacity of the usurping Zionist regime in the region.”
Hezbollah, Iran’s terror proxy in Lebanon currently engaged in daily exchanges of fire along the Israel border, reportedly issued this statement:
“Among the believers are men who have been true to what they covenanted with God; and among them are some whose love has fulfilled, and among them are those who wait, and they have not changed it with the slightest change.
Believe God Almighty
This Monday afternoon, 12/25/2023, the Zionist enemy committed a new crime added to its record of crimes and attacks, which is the crime of assassinating the dear brother, Brigadier General Sayyed Radhi al-Musawi, in Syria, who was working as a military advisor there, and we consider this assassination a blatant and shameless attack. And exceeding the limits.
The happy martyr, Mr. Radhi al-Musawi, was one of the best brothers who worked to support the Islamic resistance in Lebanon for decades of his honorable life, dedicated to serving the resistance and its mujahideen. He was a companion in arms and path to the martyr commander, Lieutenant General Hajj Qassem Soleimani, may God Almighty have mercy on them.
We extend our condolences to His Eminence the Leader, Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, may his honorable shadow last, the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards in Iran, the honorable family of the martyr, and the general self-sacrificing and honorable Iranian people, and we ask God Almighty to join him with the righteous martyrs who preceded him on the path of resistance, jihad, and giving.”
Mousavi joins other top Iranian commanders killed recently in Syria, reportedly by Israel:
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC confirmed Mousavi was killed near Damascus, and threatened revenge. The IRGC said that “the usurping and barbaric Zionist regime will pay for this crime.”
The al-Jadeed Lebanon outlet reported that Mousavi had lived in Syria for 30 years and had his own office inside the Syrian Defense Ministry.
At the beginning of the month, Iran said two IRGC officers were killed in an attack in the area of the Syrian capital, and blamed Israel.
The IRGC said Mohammad Ali Atai Shoorcheh and Panah Taghizadeh were “martyred” while on an advisory mission to Syria, blaming the “Zionists” for their death.
According to Iranian Press TV, Musavi got what he always wanted: “Martyrdom was what he was seeking!” So what’s the problem?
It will be interesting to see what form the retaliation takes, and whether it means Hezbollah will open a second front along the Lebanon-Israel border, something it has been hesitant to do. Hezbollah already has suffered over 100 dead in its tit-for-tat attack on Israel.