Iranian leaders renewed their promises to hit back after an airstrike widely blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s Consulate in Syria. The strike killed 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said Wednesday the attack “will not remain without answer.” By attacking an Iranian diplomatic station, Israel’s apparent escalation has raised fears that its devastating six-month war against Hamas could spill over into the entire Mideast region and beyond. The top U.S. Air Force commander for the Middle East said Wednesday the U.S. is concerned about new attacks on American troops by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Iran and its allies have repeatedly traded fire with Israel and the U.S. since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza.
