Hamas’ invasion of Israel and massacre of Israelis on October 7th was carried out in part to avenge the death of an Iranian general killed in an American airstrike three years ago, Iran has claimed.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that the October 7th atrocities against Israelis were payback for the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qassem Soleimani in a 2020 airstrike, according to Al Jazeera.

The statement was interpreted as a veiled threat against Israel which Iranian state media said was responsible for an airstrike that killed senior IRGC commander Sayyed Razi Mousavi in Syria on Monday.

The attack was strongly condemned by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who said that Israel “will certainly pay the price” for the killing of Mousavi.

When asked about the accusations that Israel was responsible for the attack, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Herzi Halevi replied, “I will not comment on various actions we take. The IDF is working together with other security organizations throughout the Middle East, within the borders of the state, around the borders of the state.”

“We take whatever action necessary to make it very clear that we are very determined to defend the country, are willing to go far.”

Mousavi was closely allied with Soleimani, and as leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Mousavi was in charge of transferring weapons to from Iran into Syria.

By making the connection between the Soleimani killing and the October 7th massacre, the IRGC is implying that future terror attacks may be the price tag they could exact for the death of Mousavi.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has issued threats of retaliation for the death of the IRCG commander: “Iran reserves the right to take necessary measures to respond to this action at the appropriate time and place.”

Image - Tasnim News Agency