Iran called for Israel’s expulsion from the United Nations and the imposition of an arms embargo Sunday after an Israeli strike killed nine people, including a Hezbollah commander, in a Damascus residential area.
“We strongly condemned the aggressive attack carried out today by the Zionist regime against a residential building” near Damascus, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, demanding international action against Israel through “an arms embargo” and removal from the UN.
The strike targeted an apartment belonging to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which receives support from Iran, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. The attack marks the latest escalation in regional tensions that have soared since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.
The incident reflects growing regional involvement of Iran-aligned militants, including direct confrontations between Iran and Israel. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria since that country’s civil war began in 2011, primarily targeting army positions and fighters from groups including Hezbollah. While Israeli authorities rarely comment on specific operations, they have consistently stated they will not allow Iran to expand its presence in Syria.
