Israeli Air Defenses Bolstered as Iran Vows Revenge for Death of Guards Officer

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Chief Hossein Salami on Monday accused Israel of the killing of Hassan Khodaei in Tehran last week and said the Guard will avenge his death.

Salami spoke during a visit to Khodaei’s home.

Col. Hassan Sayyad Khodaei was shot five times in his car last week by two unidentified gunmen on motorbikes in the middle of Tehran. He reportedly was involved in killings and abductions outside of Iran, including attempts to target Israelis.

“The martyrs who are murdered by the Zionists are of a much higher status. G-d willing, we will take revenge against the enemies,” Maj. Gen Hossein Salami said during the visit with Khodaei’s family.

“The enemy pursued him from the heart of the White House and Tel Aviv for months and years, house to house and alley to alley to kill him at some point,” Salami added, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

“The greatness of this martyr is so great that the enemy considers himself victorious with his martyrdom.”

Meanwhile, the IDF bolstered Israel’s air defenses over concerns Iran could launch an attack in response to the assassination.

Security officials fear a missile or suicide drone attack by Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Syria, Kan reported. Various air defense systems — including the Iron Dome — were placed on high alert and their deployments adjusted following the threat.

Israel has repeatedly warned that Iranian drones are a significant threat to the region — especially as Tehran arms proxy groups stationed along Israel’s borders.

Military officials said in March that Iran’s “UAV terror” is a new and global issue, accusing Tehran of directly attacking both military and civilian targets in the Middle East.

The IDF has confirmed it intercepted at least four Iranian drones heading for Israel and the Gaza Strip in recent years. Another pair of drones heading for Israel were downed by the U.S. Air Force in February.

The IDF believes Iran is attempting to arm all of its proxies in the region — in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen — with hundreds and even thousands of UAVs, in addition to providing military training.