Iranian general killed in Israeli attack

Tehran confirms death of Mohammad Allahdadi in an air strike that also killed fighters of the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Last updated: 19 Jan 2015 18:49

Six Iranian soldiers, including commanders, died alongside six Hezbollah fighters according to an AFP Hezbollah source [AFP]

Iran has confirmed that a general of its elite Revolutionary Guards has died in an Israeli strike on Syria that also killed six members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah. "General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi and a number of fighters and Islamic Resistance [Hezbollah] forces were attacked by the Zionist regime's helicopters," said a statement on the Guards' website on Monday. "This brave general and some members of Hezbollah were martyred," it said, adding that Allahdadi was in Syria "as an adviser helping the Syrian government to confront takfiri Salafist [Sunni extremist] terrorists." Shia Iran and Hezbollah are Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main regional allies in his war against the mainly Sunni rebels seeking to overthrow him. A source close to Hezbollah had earlier told the AFP news agency that six Iranian soldiers, including commanders, died alongside six of its own fighters in the attack, but the Guards made no mention of other losses. The raid, near Quneitra on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights on Sunday, enraged Hezbollah's supporters, but analysts said the group would seek to avoid a major escalation with Israel. Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from the Lebanese capital Beirut, said that while the situation was under control, there was still a feeling of unease. "The question is how is Hezbollah going to respond, what type of retaliatory action can we expect now from Hezbollah and will it be strong in that it could lead to a war?" She said a more measured response was expected, adding that she had spoken to a Hezbollah representative who effectively said: "Wait and see." Hezbollah officials said Jihad Mughniyeh, son of the group's late commander Imad Mughniyeh, would be buried on Monday afternoon in Beirut's southern suburbs. Massive crowds were expected. The six fighters killed on Sunday afternoon were carrying out a field reconnaissance mission in Mazraat Amal village, Hezbollah's Al-Manar television said. An Israeli security source confirmed a helicopter had carried out a strike against "terrorists" in the Golan who were allegedly carrying out an attack.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies