'Israel should await Iran's response'

Iran has officially informed the United States that Israel crossed a “red line” with the airstrike which killed an Iranian general in Syria last week, Iran’s news agency reported a senior official as saying.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdul Allahaan said: “We told the Americans that the Israeli leaders must await the consequences of their actions.”

General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi, an officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, was killed last week along with six Hezbollah members including the son of the late military leader Imad Mughniyeh in an attack on Quneitra near the Syrian Golan Heights.

A senior Israeli security source said forces thought they were attacking low-rank fighters, however Israel did not officially comment on the attack.

Abdul Allahaan said: “We informed the Americans that the Israelis have crossed red lines,” noting that Iran delivered its message to US officials through diplomatic channels.

There are no direct diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, but the United States participates in international talks with Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Abdul Allahaan’s warning coincides with warnings from the Iranian Basij Army leaders during a ceremony to pay tribute to Allahdadi.

Fars news agency reported Iran’s Basij Force Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi saying: “Zionists will not experience tranquillity; they should remain on full alert until the complete annihilation of the Zionist regime.”

Israel has carried out several attacked against Syria since the beginning of the Syrian conflict and destroyed weapons and missiles which Israeli officials claim were on their way to Hezbollah in Lebanon.