Israel to meet 'response' over air base: Velayati

Tehran(Defapress)"Definitely, this crime will not remain without a response," Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, told IRNA and IRIB upon his arrival in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Tuesday.

He added that Iran would strongly defend Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Seven Iranian military personnel were killed in the strike on the Tiyas, or T-4, air base near Homs. Syria, Iran and Russia have accused Israel of being behind the attack - something Israel has neither confirmed nor denied.

Iran also on Monday strongly condemned the Israeli regime's air strike, saying it was a blatant violation of international law which would strengthen terrorists.

"The Israeli regime's aggression against Syria is a breach of this country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity and runs counter to all international regulations and principles," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said.

Velayati, who is in Damascus to attend a conference on Palesitne, said Iran would continue its support for the people and the government of Syria in the fight against their enemies, particularly the Israeli regime and its puppets in the Arab country.

He added that the "very important" achievements made by the Syrian army and its allies in the campaign against militants in the Eastern Ghouta have irked Syria's enemies.

On Monday, the U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura referenced the air base strike along with other recent events in Syria in a briefing to the Security Council, warning against a “situation of uncontrollable escalation”.

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