Israeli Embassies Shut Worldwide Amid Threat of Iranian Retaliation

Israeli embassies around the world shut down on Friday as the Israeli military braced for a potential retaliatory attack by Iran. 

The move follows a strike in Syria, attributed to Israel, that killed senior officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to Israeli media, the embassy closures reflect the country's concerns about Iran's threats to retaliate for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. 

The closure coincides with "Quds Day," the last Friday of Ramadan. 

The Damascus attack killed Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC Quds Force's Syria and Lebanon command, along with six other IRGC officers. 

The funerals for Zahedi and the other slain officers coincided with Quds Day in Tehran.

The attack also claimed the lives of six Syrian citizens.

While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, some Israeli officials said that the targeted building housed the IRGC Quds Force headquarters and was a "legitimate target."

The Israeli military also stopped allowing leaves for combat units on Thursday due to worries about a potential retaliatory attack by Iran.

Iran has vowed retaliation for the deaths.

The attack is seen as a major strike on Iranian targets in Syria, raising regional tensions.

Iran's network of proxies in the region, known as "the axis of resistance," has engaged in skirmishes with Israel and launched attacks on US forces and bases across the Middle East since October.