Iranian Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the commander of the elite Quds Force, has been unaccounted for since a series of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut late last week. The strikes, which targeted Hezbollah strongholds in the city’s southern suburbs, also reportedly hit senior Hezbollah figures, including Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to slain leader Hassan Nasrallah. Two senior Iranian security officials confirmed that they have not been able to contact Qaani since the bombardment, raising concerns over his fate.
Israel launched a massive wave of airstrikes in an assassination attempt on Hezbollah’s new leader, Hashem Safieddine. The strikes targeted Safieddine amidst rising tensions in the region.#IsraelIranWar #Israel #Russian #RussianUkrainianWar #RussianWarCrimes #Hezbollah… pic.twitter.com/obxEOQtj0I
— drx santosh yadav (@drxsantoshahir2) October 4, 2024
Qaani, who took over leadership of the Quds Force after the death of Qassem Soleimani in 2020, was last known to be in Lebanon to assist Hezbollah following Nasrallah’s death in an Israeli strike last month. His absence is significant given his role in overseeing Iran’s military operations and alliances across the Middle East, including with Hezbollah. Reports from Iranian media and sources suggest confusion among Iranian and Hezbollah ranks, as Qaani’s whereabouts remain unclear.
The New York Times reported conflicting information regarding Qaani’s fate, with some outlets suggesting he may have been wounded or killed in the Israeli attack. However, official statements from Iran have been scarce, and Hezbollah has yet to comment on the incident. Israeli sources speculate that the strike on Beirut may have also targeted Safieddine, but it is unknown if Qaani was with him at the time.
Two Iranian Officials have told Reuters; there has been No Contact with Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the Commander of the Quds Force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG), since last week’s Israeli Airstrikes on the Lebanese Capital of Beirut. pic.twitter.com/XKO7D7fvhy
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 6, 2024
Qaani’s disappearance comes amid an intensified Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah and Iranian officers operating in Lebanon. The Israeli air force has conducted multiple strikes on Hezbollah’s leadership in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut.
Lebanese and Iranian authorities have not confirmed the exact circumstances surrounding Qaani’s disappearance, but his failure to appear at a memorial service for Nasrallah and other key events has fueled speculation. As of Sunday, Iranian officials remained unable to contact him, according to Reuters. The loss or incapacitation of Qaani would be a major blow to Iran’s military operations across the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, where the Quds Force plays a crucial role in coordinating Tehran’s regional strategy.
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