WANA (DEC 28) – On Monday, December 25, Iran’s state television interrupted its regular evening news broadcast to announce that General Seyed Razi Mousavi, the senior commander and adviser in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), had been assassinated by an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital of Damascus.

 

The official Funeral ceremony of this IRGC member was held on Thursday, December 28, in Tehran, with a massive turnout, showing up to support their commander and to show that they are determined to get revenge.

 

“Our revenge is always hard, but a revenge equivalent to the martyrdom of Seyed Razi is nothing but the removal of the Zionist regime from the face of existence.” General Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, said in his speech during the funeral.

A billboard with a picture of the senior adviser for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, is seen in a street in Tehran, Iran December 27, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

This assassination is an undeniable attempt of Israel’s government to expand the scope of the war and involve Iran in this war.

 

Iran, as a big supporter of the Palestine nation, has not engaged directly in the war, which has already killed over 21,000 Palestinians in less than three months; Iran’s involvement will lead to a much larger regional war, which will worsen an already horrific situation in Gaza.

 

According to Al Jazeera, General Mousavi was the target of several assassination attempts by Israel. The US and Israel have for years carried out attacks against what they describe as Iranian forces in Syria; even earlier this month, Israeli strikes had killed two IRGC members in Syria who had served as military advisers there.

People carry the coffin of senior adviser for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was killed in an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital Damascus, during his funeral in Tehran, Iran December 28, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The IRGC immediately stated on the night of the assassination about the assassination of the top Iranian general. It read in part:

“Martyr Mousavi was one of the comrades of General Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani and was responsible for supporting the resistance front in Syria…(We emphasize) that the usurping and savage Zionist regime will undoubtedly pay the price for this crime.”

 

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, performed the special funeral prayer (requiem) in front of the coffin of General Seyed Razi on the early morning of General Mousavi’s funeral day.

 

The leader of Iran rarely prays this prayer for anyone. But now, He performed a special prayer to send a message, which is the most important manifestation of this commander’s position. On the other hand, he wanted to send a message of harsh revenge to Israel with this move. It means that Israel knows that it has assassinated a crucial person.

People gather for the funeral ceremony of senior adviser for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was killed in an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital Damascus, in Tehran, Iran December 28, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

On the Same night, In a message of condolence for the martyrdom of Brigadier General Seyed Razi Mousavi in the terrorist attack of the Zionists, Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, emphasized: “This malicious act is another sign of frustration and helplessness of the usurping Zionist regime in the region, and it will pay for this crime.”

 

There was no immediate comment from Israel’s military. Still, Barak Ravid, a reporter for US news site Axios, quotes an unnamed Israeli official who says that Israel is preparing for retaliation that could include rocket fire from Syria and Lebanon.

 

A billboard with a picture of the senior adviser for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, is seen in a street in Tehran, Iran, December 27, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

More information about General Seyed Razi Mousavi Mousavi

General Seyed Razi Mousavi Mousavi was one of the oldest IRGC commanders in Syria and Lebanon; he’s been functioning in this area since the 80s and was responsible for coordinating the military alliance between Syria and Iran.

 

The Israelis accuse him of being an instrumental figure within the network of arms smuggling from Iran to Syria, to Iraq to Syria, and to end with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and also as very influential within what Iran calls the Axis of Resistance.

People gather for the funeral ceremony of senior adviser for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was killed in an Israeli air strike outside the Syrian capital Damascus, in Tehran, Iran December 28, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)