On December 26, 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of the Iranian regime announced the death of Razi Mousavi, a prominent figure known as “Seyed Razi” and recognized as the head of the so-called “Resistance Front” in Syria.
The news of his demise sparked a flurry of reports, accompanied by photographs that shed light on this previously unknown commander of the IRGC.
The IRGC’s announcement regarding Mousavi’s death was brief and lacking in specific details regarding the time and circumstances surrounding the demise of this senior IRGC commander.
However, Hossein Akbari, the regime’s ambassador in Syria, disclosed to Iranian state TV that Mousavi had been present at the regime’s embassy in Damascus until 2:00 p.m. on Monday. After completing his duties, he departed for his residence and was struck by three Israeli rockets at 4:10 p.m. on the same day in the Zainabiya region, located in the suburbs of Damascus.
Hasan Polark, the head of the support staff of the Resistance Front and the chairman of the board of directors of the Atebat Development and Reconstruction Headquarters, affirmed during an interview with Iran’s state television on Khabar channel that Mousavi had been targeted by a missile after visiting one of his headquarters.
Jafar Asadi, the former commander of the IRGC in Syria and the deputy inspector of the Khatam al-Anbia base, further shared with the Tasnim news agency that Israel had previously targeted the same location in attempts to assassinate Razi Mousavi.
However, this time, aided by their intelligence sources, they managed to pinpoint his exact whereabouts.
Although the Iranian regime’s media outlets have divulged limited information concerning the background of this senior IRGC official in Syria, various descriptions have emerged, portraying Mousavi as a long-time friend, a special individual, one of the closest comrades, and a reliable and trusted confidant of the slain Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Narges Soleimani, the daughter of Qassem Soleimani and a member of the Tehran City Council, shared her reminiscences at a council meeting, invoking memories of the night of her father’s ‘martyrdom’ when she visited the home of Razi Mousavi’s family.
Additionally, a video surfaced featuring Razi Mousavi himself, recounting how Qassem Soleimani had informed him that his martyrdom was imminent.
Following the news of Seyed Razi’s death, the regime’s President, Speaker of the Parliament, and other high-ranking political and military officials released separate messages, all emphasizing that Israel would face consequences for the attack at the appropriate time and place.
Furthermore, the spokesman of the National Security Commission of the Parliament announced an upcoming emergency meeting to discuss the incident.
The extensive attention garnered by Razi Mousavi’s demise, despite previous instances of IRGC commanders being killed in Syria, suggests that he held a significant role in the region that surpassed that of an ordinary IRGC brigadier general.
Within Iran, Razi Mousavi remained an anonymous figure, his presence largely unnoticed by the media. One expert from Iran’s state television aptly pointed out that the regime possessed many anonymous soldiers operating in the region, and Mousavi was one of them.
While his name is absent from lists of senior IRGC commanders in Syria mentioned in the media, as well as from the roster of commanders awarded military medals for their service in Syria and Iraq, Mousavi’s records indicate that he was one of the longest-serving IRGC commanders in the region.
According to Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran City Council, Mousavi played a pivotal role in organizing the IRGC Quds Force.
Senior IRGC officials have attested that Razi Mousavi was a well-known figure in Syria, with individuals ranging from Bashar Assad to other key figures acquainted with his activities and contributions. He had become a familiar name to Israel, having survived at least two previous assassination attempts.
Although no interviews with Razi Mousavi were published, even if they had been, they likely would have omitted details about his position and role.
However, on Tuesday, the regime’s TV re-broadcasted a segment of the documentary “72 Hours,” originally aired on several channels in December 2021, referring to him as “one of the commanders of the resistance front.”
According to the regime’s media, Razi Mousavi had been involved in foreign activities for the past 25 years and held responsibility for coordinating the affairs of the regime’s advisory forces in Syria and Lebanon.
In an interview with Ali Salehi, an IRGC commander nicknamed “Abutorab,” conducted by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, Salehi referred to Razi Mousavi as a comrade, highlighting the striking resemblance between Mousavi and Qassem Soleimani in terms of their dedication, commitment, and leadership qualities.
The death of Razi Mousavi has brought attention to the puzzling nature of his role within the IRGC and the so-called “resistance front” in Syria.
His presence and contributions were largely unknown to the public, both within Iran and internationally, until news of his demise emerged. Despite the lack of specific details about his background and responsibilities, testimonies from high-ranking officials and those close to him indicate that he held a significant position within the IRGC and played a crucial role in coordinating the regime’s activities in Syria and Lebanon.
As more information surfaces and investigations unfold, the true extent of Razi Mousavi’s contributions and the impact of his loss on the IRGC and the resistance front in Syria will become clearer.
Until then, the enigma surrounding this anonymous commander of the IRGC continues to draw attention and generate speculation about his role and significance within the Iranian regime’s operations in the region.
Mojtaba Tavangar, MP from Tehran, wrote in his X account, ‘It can be said with certainty’ that Razi Mousavi, the IRGC commander who was killed by Israel’s attack in Syria, was ‘one of the organizers’ of Hamas’ attack on Israel called ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’.
