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Iranian protesters burn the U.S. and Israeli flags to condemn killing members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria<\/em><\/p>\n BY KAREEM CHEHAYEB AND ALBERT AJI<\/strong><\/p>\n DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) \u2014 An Israeli airstrike that demolished Iran\u2019s consulate in Syria on Monday killed two Iranian generals and five officers, according to Iranian officials. The strike appeared to signify an escalation of Israel\u2019s targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon.<\/p>\n Since the war in Gaza began nearly six months ago, clashes have increased between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon. Hamas, which rules Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, is also backed by Iran.<\/p>\n Israel, which rarely acknowledges strikes against Iranian targets, said it had no comment on the latest attack in Syria, although a military spokesman blamed Iran for a drone attack early Monday against a naval base in southern Israel.<\/p>\n Israel has grown increasingly impatient with the daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah, which have escalated in recent days, and warned of the possibility of a full-fledged war. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also been launching long-range missiles toward Israel, including on Monday.<\/p>\n The airstrike in Syria killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who led the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, according to Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard. It also killed Zahedi\u2019s deputy, Gen Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and five other officers.<\/p>\n A member of Hezbollah, Hussein Youssef, also was killed in the attack, an official with the militant group told The Associated Press.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nIsraeli strike on Iran\u2019s consulate in Syria killed 2 generals and 5 other officers, Iran says<\/h3>\n