IRGC aerospace colonel deployed in Syria succumbs to injuries in Tehran

A military adviser from Iran's Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace force, Colonel Ahmadreza Afshari, has died from injuries sustained in Syria, according to a report by IRGC-affiliated media.

"Colonel Ahmadreza Afshari was martyred today [on Thursday] due to injuries sustained from aerial bombardment by the coalition violating Syria," said the chief commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami.

While the exact date of the strike was not released, Iranian media indicated that Afshari’s injuries were sustained between late July and early August.

The US and Israel have both conducted strikes in Syria targeting Iran-aligned factions, as Tehran's influence has steadily increased since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011.

Iran maintains that its forces in Syria are advisors invited by the Syrian government. Still, it has also deployed thousands of militia fighters from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan to bolster Assad's regime.

The death of Colonel Afshari is the latest in a series of escalations between Iran and its adversaries in the region. In April, Iran launched a direct retaliatory strike on Israeli territory using over 300 drones and missiles, although the damage inflicted was minimal, as most of the projectiles were intercepted.

This action was in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike on April 1 that targeted an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus, killing two senior Revolutionary Guard generals and five other officers. The targeted individuals were reportedly involved in operations aimed at increasing attacks on Israel.