Iran's involvement in the Syrian Civil War on the side of the government of Bashar al-Assad has been a source of contention for Israel.

[13] According to Al Jazeera, Israeli media had frequently published images of him along with Saeed Izadi, a top Iranian military liaison to Palestinians who was initially rumored to have been killed in the same strike, as the main IRGC-Quds Force officials sought by the country.

On 1 April 2024, Zahedi was killed by an Israeli airstrike that targeted the consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Syria's Damascus.

[17] On 13 April 2024, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel; the Israeli government stated that it intercepted 99% of the Iranian projectiles, but the attack critically injured a child.

[18] On 19 April 2024, Israel attacked an Iranian air defense system in response to the drone and missile barrage a week prior.