Syria – Visual Investigation into Israel Airstrike on Iran’s Consulate in Damascus

In the aftermath of Iran’s recent retaliatory strikes against Israel, debate swirls around Israel’s initial airstrike on Iran’s purported consulate in Damascus in early April. This strike sparked controversy over whether the compound targeted was a consulate or a military outpost nestled within the heart of the Syrian capital.

Israeli authorities have alleged that the building served as a compound for the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps). Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari told CNN’s that the target was a military complex. “I repeat, this is no consulate, and this is no embassy. This is a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building in Damascus.”

However, a visual investigation using open-source intelligence suggests otherwise. The target appears to have been a consulate situated between the Iranian and Canadian embassies, both in the vicinity.

Aftermath of the Israel airstrike on Iranian consulate on April 1, 2024. Photo is taken from an Aljazeera video report.

Utilizing open-source analysis, which includes scrutinizing satellite imagery and footage shared by media reports, unequivocally confirms the location of the targeted building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Further examination of visual evidence sourced from Google maps distinctly identifies the building as the Iranian consulate, directly challenging Israeli claims.

After corroborating the data, it becomes apparent that the compound hit by the Israeli airstrike, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s IRGC generals, was known as an Iranian consulate.

The images are obtained from Google Maps.

The satellite images show the Iranian consulate, situated within the Mezzeh district of Damascus, is adjacent to the Canadian embassy, positioned approximately 30 meters away from the Iranian embassy.

The photo on the right uploaded by Craig Bishop on Google Maps a long time ago shows the Canadian embassy resembling the same architectural features of the current location of the embassy. The embassy ceased operations in 2012.

The flattened consulate reportedly contained high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meeting Palestinian militants, according to both Iranian and Israeli sources cited by The New York Times. The strike killed Iranian military commanders including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi, and Gen. Hossein Aman Allahi.

The New York Times reported Israel’s involvement in the strike, citing four Israeli officials. The paper frequently referred to the consulate “as part of the Iranian Embassy complex” and “Iranian Embassy building.”

Disclaimer: This report cannot verify the IDF claims regarding the objectives of the consulate.