Iran calls for justice after embassy employee's death in Damascus terror assault

An Iranian embassy employee, Seyed Daoud Bitaraf, was killed in a terrorist attack on his car in Damascus on December 15, according to an official statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed the attack, stating that Bitaraf, a technical staff member at the Iranian embassy, was targeted by terrorist fire, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"On Sunday, December 15, terrorist elements shelled the car of Seyed Daoud Bitaraf, an employee of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, and he was killed," Baghaei said in a statement. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack in the strongest terms, offering condolences to Bitaraf's family and to the Iranian people.

Baghaei also emphasized that the responsibility for identifying, prosecuting, and holding accountable those responsible for the attack lies with the Syrian transitional government. He assured that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is addressing the matter with urgency and seriousness.

This incident follows an attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus earlier this month. On December 8, the embassy was stormed by militia members who have gained control of parts of the Syrian capital. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the assault and called for an assurance that such attacks would not happen again. In response, Iranian diplomats were evacuated to Lebanon, with the ministry stating that the embassy's operations would resume only when the new authorities in Syria can guarantee the safety of diplomatic personnel.

The violence comes amid ongoing turmoil in Syria. In late November, opposition forces launched a significant offensive against Syrian government positions, which culminated in the capture of parts of Damascus. On December 8, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced his resignation and departure from the country. Following this, Mohammed al-Bashir, leader of the Salvation Government in Idlib province, declared himself as the head of Syria's transitional government, which is set to rule until March 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova