Iran accuses Israel and US of killing Syrian imam in Damascus attack

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused Israel and the United States of responsibility for an attack in Syria that killed a prominent Muslim cleric, sharply condemning what it described as a broader pattern of violence targeting religious figures in the region.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denounced the strike in the Sayyidah Zaynab area southeast of Damascus, where Seyed Farhan Hassan al-Mansour, a Muslim scholar and Friday prayer imam at the shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab, was killed.

In a statement released by the ministry, Baghaei expressed deep outrage over the incident and directly blamed Israel and the United States, alleging their involvement in destabilising actions across the region.

“Terrorist acts against religious sites and scholars in Syria and the region are part of the devilish plots of Israel and the United States aimed at provoking and inciting discord in the countries of the region. He noted the importance of vigilance by all parties and a decisive fight against terrorism and extremism,” Baghaei said.

He extended condolences to the family of al-Mansour, as well as to the Syrian people and the wider community of religious scholars. Baghaei also stressed the need to identify and punish those responsible for the killing, calling for coordinated regional efforts to “eradicate terrorism.”

At the same time, he underscored the responsibility of Syria’s interim authorities, stating that “the transitional government of Syria bears responsibility for ensuring the safety of citizens, scholars, and all ethnic, religious, and confessional groups in the country.”

The Sayyidah Zaynab district, home to one of the most revered Shiite shrines, has long been a sensitive area amid ongoing instability in Syria.

By Tamilla Hasanova