Iranian commanders killed in Israeli air strike on Damascus

General who oversaw Iran’s covert military ops in Syria and Lebanon among dead

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At least three senior commanders and four officers overseeing Iran's covert operations in the Middle East were killed on April 1 when Israeli warplanes struck a building in Damascus, Syria, that is part of the Iranian Embassy complex, according to Iranian and Syrian officials.

The strike in Damascus, the Syrian capital, appeared to be among the deadliest attacks in a yearslong shadow war between Israel and Iran that has included the assassinations of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists.

That covert war has moved into the open as tensions between the countries have intensified over Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, the Iranian-backed militia that led the Oct 7 attack on Israel.

Four Israeli officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, confirmed that Israel had been behind the strike in Damascus, but denied that the building had diplomatic status.

But the Syrian ambassador to Iran, Mr Shafiq Dayoub, said the strike had targeted a diplomatic building and was a "clear and complete violation of all international conventions and norms".

Video circulating on social media after the strike showed a destroyed building next to the embassy, and photographs showed an entrance gate with a sign identifying it as the consular section.

The embassy said on X, formerly Twitter, that the building housed a consular section and the ambassador's residence.

Footage broadcast by Iranian and Syrian news agencies showed a ruined building, burnt cars, shattered glass and debris on the ground.