IRGC chief threatens Israel over its actions in Syria

Israel will have to pay a high price for its actions against Syria's sovereignty following the overthrow of the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The Zionists will pay a heavy price for their illegal actions in Syria. They will be buried on this land, but this will require some time," Salami said, Caliber.Az reports, referencing Iranian media.

He added that while Iran has been present in Syria, Tehran has never sought to occupy or annex parts of the Arab Republic. Instead, Iran has only sought to help preserve the national dignity of the Syrian people.

To recall, on December 8, Israeli military forces took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights without facing resistance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the 1974 separation of forces agreement with Syria was no longer valid, as Syrian troops had left the area following the change in leadership in Damascus. Israeli Air Force strikes continue against military targets in Syria. 

On December 10, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that the Israeli Navy had effectively destroyed Syria’s military fleet. On December 12, the Israeli Army press service reported that Israeli Air Force carried out a series of mass strikes on Syria, destroying over 90% of identified surface-to-air missile stockpiles.