IRGC commander confirms death of senior Iranian general in Syria, blames Israel

Lt-Gen Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has confirmed the death of Major General Kioumars Pourhashemi, a prominent Iranian military figure in Syria, following an attack in the northern region of the country.

Salami attributed the incident to extremist groups under Israeli influence, marking it as part of ongoing regional tensions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

"The brutal Zionist regime suffered a strategic defeat in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and failed to achieve its diabolical goal of establishing dominance over the Islamic resistance front. Now the Takfiri terrorists, under the control and leadership of the defeated in Gaza and South Lebanon, have carried out another brutal attack on Syria in recent days, drawing a response from that country's army and militia. One of the crimes of the Zionist Takfiri terrorists was the assassination of Iran's chief military adviser in Syria, Major General Kiyoumars Pourhashemi, known as Hajj Hashem," the IRGC press office quoted Salami as saying.

In response to increased tensions, the Syrian Armed Forces General Command dismissed claims of terrorist infiltration in Hama province, emphasizing strengthened defences.

"The messages that are being spread on the pages and platforms of armed terrorist organizations about their penetration into cities in the northern part of the province are not true," stated the General Command in a Facebook post. It also highlighted the reinforcement of defensive positions and the military's readiness to counter any potential threats.

According to Sham FM radio, the Syrian army has deployed significant reinforcements to the northern and northwestern areas of Hama province, addressing concerns over possible offensives by extremist groups.

The General Command also refuted allegations that Syrian troops had withdrawn from positions in Hama, bordering Aleppo and Idlib provinces, where "Jabhat al-Nusra" has reportedly intensified its operations.

The developments highlight the complex and volatile situation in the region as Syrian and Iranian forces face heightened threats from extremist groups and geopolitical adversaries.

By Khagan Isayev