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Residential building destroyed in attack that killed IRGC members in Syria

An apparent Israeli air strike in the Syrian capital killed five of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard military advisers.

Heavy duty machine removes debris of a destroyed building after Israel's airstrike, which killed 4 commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers, in Damascus, Syria on January 20
A heavy-duty machine removes debris of a destroyed building after an apparent Israeli attack killed members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus, Syria [Ammar Ghali/Anadolu Agency]
Published On 20 Jan 2024

An air raid on the Mazzeh neighbourhood of the Syrian capital, Damascus, tore into a multistorey residential building and left several people killed.

The target of Saturday’s attack was an intelligence unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), sources told Al Jazeera.

The IRGC said an attack by Israeli fighter jets killed five of its “military advisers” and a number of Syrian forces.

It identified its members who were killed immediately as Hojjatollah Omidvar, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi and Saied Karimi, without sharing their ranks. It later said another member, Mohammad Amin Samadi, also died after succumbing to his wounds.

Iran’s foreign ministry blamed Israel for the strike and said it “reserves the right to respond”. Israel has yet to comment.

The attack is believed to have been carried out with at least four missiles, according to Iranian state media.

Saturday’s attack comes amid widening tensions in the region and the Israeli offensive on Gaza that has killed nearly 25,000 people.

People and security forces gather in front of a building destroyed in a reported Israeli strike in Damascus on January 20
People and security forces gather in front of a multistorey residential building flattened by an air raid in Damascus. [Louai Beshara/AFP]
People and security forces gather in front of a building destroyed in a reported Israeli strike in Damascus on January 20
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Israel was behind the air raid that killed five of its military advisers and Syrians. [Louai Beshara/AFP]
Heavy duty machine removes debris of a destroyed building after Israel's airstrike, which killed 4 commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers, in Damascus, Syria on January 20
Emergency personnel search the rubble of the targeted building in the Mazzeh neighbourhood, west of Damascus. [Ammar Ghali/Anadolu Agency]
Rescuers work at the site of residential building after an alleged Israeli strike in Mezzah neighborhood, Damascus, Syria, 20
Rescuers remove a damaged car at the site of the attack in Mazzeh neighbourhood, Damascus. [Stringer/EPA]
Security and emergency personnel search the rubble of a building destroyed in a reported Israeli strike in Damascus on January 20
Security and emergency personnel search the rubble in the aftermath of the attack on the Syrian capital. [Louai Beshara/AFP]
Ambulances are seen at the site of residential building that was targeted in an alleged Israeli strike in Mezzah neighborhood, Damascus, Syria, 20 January
Ambulances are seen at the site of the attack in which several people were killed. [Stringer/EPA]
Soldiers and people check a damaged car at the site of residential building that was targeted in an alleged Israeli strike in Mezzah neighborhood, Damascus, Syria, 20 January
Soldiers and people survey a damaged car after the attack. [Stringer/EPA]
Emergency services work at a building hit by an air strike in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 20
Emergency services work at the site of the attack in Damascus. [Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo]
People look out windows as security and emergency personnel search the rubble of an adjacent building destroyed in a reported Israeli strike in Damascus on January 20
People look out of windows as security and emergency personnel search the rubble of an adjacent building. [Louai Beshara/AFP]