by Derrick Broze, Activist Post:
Recent actions taken by both the Israeli and Ecuadorian governments have called into question the sovereignty and sanctity of international embassies.
On April 1st, Israel launched missiles at the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing seven military advisers, including a high-profile leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran’s ambassador to Syria noted that the strike hit a consulate building in the embassy compound.
Iran’s U.N. mission called the attack a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the foundational principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.”
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The Israeli strike killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a veteran commander of the Quds Force, the IRGC foreign operations unit in Syria and Lebanon.
On Sunday, Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that, “The embassies of the Zionist regime are no longer safe.” Despite these statements, it remains to be seen what type of action Iran might take in retaliation.
Israel’s bombing of the embassy is part of a recent escalation of airstrikes against Iran’s IRGC and the Iran-supported Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah. Israel has stated they are attempting to disrupt Iran’s support for Hezbollah.
The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that Israel is expecting an attack from Iran in the next two days. However, according to a person briefed by the Iranian leadership, Iran has not decided how to respond. Some believe it is likely that Iran will strike an Israeli embassy or consulate since the bombing of Iran’s embassy in Syria is seen as a violation of national sovereignty. This is what makes Israel’s April 1st attack different from other ongoing conflicts.
Under international law, embassies and consulates are considered the sovereign territory of the country they represent. Embassies house the diplomatic mission of an individual nation in the capital of the host nation, including diplomatic staff. Embassies focus on maintaining political, economic, and cultural relations between the two nations. Consulates are focused on providing services to their country’s citizens in the host country, including passports and help during emergencies.
