"We will make them regret for this crime"; Imam Khamenei

Here is the full text of Ayatollah Khamenei's message:

"In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful."

The valorous and selfless commander of Islam, Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, alongside his fellow-combatant General Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi, were martyred through the crime of the usurper and hated Zionist regime. May the greetings and mercy of God and His Friends be upon them and other martyrs of this event, and may the curse be upon the ringleaders of the oppressive and invading regime. Our martyrs have attained the badge of acceptance of their longtime struggle from their Kind God, and now, are blessed with divine bounties beside [God's] Friends and the Righteous.

General Zahedi has been expecting martyrdom in the fields of danger and struggle since 1980s. They have not lost anything and have received their reward. But, the sorrow of their loss is weighty for the Iranian nation, especially those who knew them.

The wicked regime will be punished by our brave men. We will make them regret this crime and the like of it with the help and power of God.

Greetings to Allah's righteous servants,

Seyyed Ali Khamenei"

During the Monday evening attack of the Zionist regime fighters to the Consulate of Iran's Embassy in Damascus, General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi, two of the commanders and veterans of the Holy Defence (8 year Iraqi-imposed war against Iran) and senior military advisors in Syria were martyred with 5 other officers.

Some of the Iranian military forces, upon the official request and invitation of the Syrian government, are present in Syria within the framework of Quds Corps to help maintain security in West Asia and present advisory services to the Syrian military forces in the fight against terrorism, particularly the fight against Daesh terrorist grouplet.