Iran says US-Israeli strikes destroyed synagogue in Tehran, 'desecrates Torah scrolls'

US-Israeli strikes flattened Rafieinia Synagogue in the Iranian capital Tehran and "desecrated Torah scrolls," Iran said on Tuesday, describing the attack as a "despicable crime."

"This despicable war crime was committed during the Jewish holidays, as Homayoun Sameyah, the representative of Iran's Jewish community in the Parliament, reported," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on US social media company X.

The attack is "abhorred by all Iranians," he said. “Iranians are united & resolved in defending their homeland.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the synagogue has served as “a house of worship for Iranian Jews for many decades.”

"It was destroyed today in an attack carried out by the Israeli criminals," he added on X.

Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure, while disrupting global markets and aviation.