Esmail Ghaani, the leader of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has been at the forefront of Iran’s regional strategy following the U.S. killing of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, in 2020. The Quds Force, known for its unconventional warfare and support of allied and proxy groups across the Middle East, has seen a notable increase in activities under Ghaani’s command, particularly after the attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Unlike Soleimani, who became a public figure towards the end of his tenure, Ghaani has largely remained out of the spotlight, despite being instrumental in orchestrating a series of attacks on U.S. targets and bolstering militant groups throughout the region. Since taking over, Ghaani has doubled down on the strategy of arming, funding, and supporting terrorist and insurgent groups in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Palestinian territories. This approach aims to maintain pressure on Iran’s adversaries, namely Israel, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia, by empowering groups within the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”
Ghaani’s tenure has witnessed a mix of direct and indirect involvement in regional conflicts. While the Quds Force’s role in certain attacks, such as the Hamas operations in Israel, appears minimal, other actions like the drone attack against a U.S. military outpost in Jordan suggest a more hands-on approach. This incident significantly heightened tensions and led to retaliatory actions by the U.S. and Britain in Iraq and Syria.
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