Iranian media reported on Friday the death of Reza Zarei, an advisor to the Revolutionary Guards, in an Israeli airstrike on Baniyas in western Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that three Iranian leaders were targeted in the coastal area of Baniyas in northwest Syria. The strike in Baniyas reportedly targeted a house used by Iranian militias, and local sources mentioned hearing three loud explosions causing panic among residents due to the intensity of the sounds.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory, mentioned that the targeting of a group affiliated with Iranian militias on the outskirts of the city of Baniyas on the Syrian coast has several implications. The targeted area is inherently opposed to the Iranian presence, indicating that these elements are threatened anywhere within Syria. This targeting is “the first of its kind in Baniyas for three years,” according to the Observatory. Amidst the war in the Gaza Strip, Israel has intensified its airstrikes in Syria, particularly targeting groups loyal to Tehran, including Hezbollah.
The recent Israeli airstrike in Damascus, Syria, which reportedly resulted in the death of five Iranian advisors, is part of a series of events targeting Iranian military leaders. This incident is reminiscent of the high-profile assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a key Iranian military figure, by a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. Soleimani’s death led to widespread reactions, including vows of retaliation from Iran and heightened military alertness in the region, with the U.S. deploying additional troops to the Middle East.
The pattern of targeting Iranian military leaders has continued, as evidenced by another significant strike in Damascus that killed top Iranian commanders. This attack is part of Israel’s broader strategy to target Iran-allied militant groups in Syria, such as Hezbollah, to counter Iran’s influence in the region. The targeting of Iranian military leaders has been a contentious issue, with Iran vowing retaliation against Israel following the killings.
