Israeli media: Sayad Khodai was involved in the assassination operation
Israeli media reports that Colonel Sayyad Khodai, who was assassinated in Tehran on June 1, was involved in a series of assassination operations against Israeli citizens and diplomats. He was also said to have played a “significant role” in Iran’s military drone industry.
Israeli media outlets, citing unnamed sources, have reported that the assassinated Quds Force colonel in Tehran was involved in planning the hostage-taking of Israeli citizens, as well as attacks against Israel and Jewish centers around the world.
On Sunday, June 2, Iranian state news agencies reported the assassination of a Revolutionary Guards colonel by unknown assailants. The man’s name was initially reported as “Hassan Sayyad Khodayari.” Shortly after, the Revolutionary Guards issued a statement identifying the victim as “Guards Colonel Sayyad Khodayari” and attributing his assassination to “agents affiliated with global arrogance.”
This Iranian media report, as well as the IRGC's announcement, refers to this colonel as the "defender of the shrine" and states that he was one of the commanders of the Quds Force, the overseas branch of the IRGC.
The Times of Israel website wrote that an Iranian official told Al Jazeera that the assassination of the commander was "crossing a red line" and that those responsible for the assassination "will pay a heavy price."
The Israeli media outlet wrote that the manner in which the IRGC colonel was assassinated has increased the possibility of a connection between this assassination and previous assassinations in Iran, such as the assassinations of nuclear scientists that are attributed to Israel, because in all of these assassinations, the attackers were riding motorcycles.
The "Kan" website, affiliated with the Israeli state media, wrote that if the suspicion of Israeli involvement in this assassination is true, this could be a new level of Israeli actions against Iran, because Sayyad Khodai was not involved in Iran's nuclear program.
Israel's Channel 12 news network asked Defense Minister Benny Gantz about the assassination, but he declined to comment. Gantz, who is in New York, said: "The Israeli government is very strong. I don't follow every report that is published anywhere."
Involvement in a series of assassination operations
Israel’s Channel 13 news network has identified Sayyad Khodai as a colleague of Mansour Rasouli. Mansour Rasouli is the man the Mossad claimed to have kidnapped in Tehran, interrogated, and then released. Israel had claimed that Rasouli was planning a series of assassination and kidnapping operations in Turkey, Germany, and France. According to Israel’s Channel 13, Sayyad Khodai had assigned Mansour Rasouli to kill the Israeli consul in Istanbul.
Israel’s Channel 12 also reported that Sayyad Khodai was behind an operation recently uncovered by the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. The Shin Bet announced on May 19 that Iranian intelligence agents had attempted to lure Israeli academics and businessmen abroad. According to the Israeli internal security service, the Islamic Republic’s intelligence agents used fake identities on social media, often posing as academics, journalists, businessmen and philanthropists.
According to the report, Sayyad Khodai was also behind an operation aimed at assassinating five Israelis in Cyprus. According to Israel’s Channel 12, Sayyad Khodai had recently returned from Syria, where he had been working under the supervision of Qassem Soleimani, the slain commander of the Quds Force.
An Iranian security source also said that Sayyad Khodai played an "important" role in Iran's military industry, especially in the field of drones.
Source: DW
