Israeli strike on Damascus kills four Iranian Revolutionary Guards - including top official

William Mata|Reuters
20 January 2024

An Israeli missile strike on Damascus has killed four members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, including the head of the force's information unit in Syria. 

A security source in the regional pro-Syria alliance reported the incident happened on Saturday. 

The IDF is taking further action after Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7

People and security forces gather in front of a building destroyed
AFP via Getty Images

Syrian state media said a building in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus was targeted in a likely Israeli attack, without giving further details. Other local media in Syria said explosions were heard across the Syrian capital.

The security source, part of a network of groups close to Syria's government and its major ally Iran, said the multi-storey building was used by Iranian advisers supporting President Bashar al-Assad's government, and that it was entirely flattened by "precision-targeted Israeli missiles".

Iran's state-run Press TV said two Iranian Guards military advisers were killed in the Israeli strike on Damascus.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Essam Al-Amin, head of the Al-Mowasat Hospital in Damascus, told Reuters that his hospital had received one corpse and three wounded people, including a woman, following Saturday's attack.

Rescuers respond to the strike in Damascus
AFP via Getty Images

A spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said that no members of their group were wounded in the strike, following reports that some were at the bombed-out building.

In December, an Israeli strike killed two guards members in Damascus. 

Another on Christmas Day killed a senior adviser to the guards who was overseeing military coordination between Syria and Iran.