Israeli assassination of IRGC colonel sign of despair

Raeisi made the remark as he met the family of Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, who was shot and killed in front of his home in the Iranian capital Tehran on May 22 by two assailants on a motorbike. Iran blamed the assassination on Israel.

Khodaei was disembarking his car to enter his home in an eastern neighborhood of the capital when three bullets hit him in the head and two bullets in the hand, Press TV reported.

“The fact that the enemies of the Islamic Republic, instead of confronting us on the battlefield, carry out such cowardly assassinations, is a sign of their desperation and despair while [indicative of] triumph and power of the Islamic Republic,” Raeisi said.

The president hailed the sacrifices of the slain IRGC officer and wished patience and blessings to his bereaved family.

The New York Times on May 25 cited an intelligence official as saying that Israel had informed American officials that it was behind the assassination.

The US daily also cited Israeli officials who claimed that Khodaei was allegedly involved in planning cross-border plots against Israelis.

Raeisi said at the time that “global arrogance” was behind the terrorist act, vowing “definite revenge” for Khodaei’s blood.

IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami also vowed that Iran would take “harsh” revenge on those who assassinated the colonel.