Iran’s IRGC is reportedly rebuilding Hezbollah as Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon and US-Iran tensions surge. With US naval deployments, troop movements, and nuclear talks underway, fears of a wider regional conflict are growing rapidly.

Iran preparing for war with Israel and US? IRGC takes over Hezbollah amid escalating tensions - What this means

Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force in Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is allegedly missing and was last seen in Beirut about a week ago. Though Iranian media has remained quiet on his location, some reports from Turkish and Israeli outlets have speculated that Qaani may be dead.

Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force in Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is allegedly missing and was last seen in Beirut about a week ago. Though Iranian media has remained quiet on his location, some reports from Turkish and Israeli outlets have speculated that Qaani may be dead. Qaani was reportedly in Beirut to provide support to Hezbollah, following a string of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes that killed many Hezbollah fighters. Qaani has not been seen after Israeli attacks in Beirut last Friday, The New York Times also reported these claims, citing anonymous officials from Iran's IRGC, but no formal confirmation of Qaani’s death has come from Iranian authorities. Also read: Fearing for his life, Hamas chief ceases contact with Qatari officials: Report Reports also suggest that the Israeli airstrikes in the Dahiyeh area, located in southern Beirut, targeted Hashem Safieddine, who was said to be the potential successor to Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Safieddine has also reportedly been unreachable since the strikes. According to Israeli news outlet N12, Qaani may have been present in Dahiyeh during the airstrikes and possibly injured. Another Israeli news source, Channel 12, reported that Lebanese officials confirmed Qaani’s death, although the Israeli military (IDF) has not yet officially said anything about the strike that might have killed him. Also read: Israel: Woman killed, 10 wounded in terror attack at Beersheba bus station There are also reports suggesting that Qaani was put under high surveillance, following Iran’s missile attacks on October 1, raising concerns about Israeli actions against him. Some Saudi news channels have speculated that Iran itself might have executed Qaani, suspecting him of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. Qaani’s absence was noted during Friday prayers led by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Esmail Qaani took over leadership of Iran’s foreign operations after Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. Following Soleimani’s death, Qaani became a key figure in directing Iran’s military activities in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran's Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani reported missing after Israeli airstrikes in Beirut

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday (Oct 1) said the missile attack underway on Israel was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.&nbsp;

"In response to the martyrdom of (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and (Guards commander) Nilforoshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories (Israel)," the Guards said in a statement, the Fars news agency reported. &nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Guards also threatened to carry out "crushing attacks" against&nbsp;Israel if it retaliated after the Iranian missile attack.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-says-iran-launched-several-missiles-on-israel-763663">Also read:&nbsp;Iran launches over 100 missiles on Israel, IDF says 10mn civilians under threat</a>

"If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks," the Fars news agency reported citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;

Iran on Tuesday fired over 150 missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. Alarms and explosions were heard in Jerusalem.&nbsp;

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the missiles targeted key commercial and residential areas, adding that approximately 10 million civilians are the targets of Iranian projectiles.

<h2>Response to terrorist acts&nbsp;‘duly carried out’: Iran</h2>

The Iranian mission to the United Nations said that Israel had concluded the missile attack and warned the Israeli government against carrying out its own retaliation.&nbsp;

“Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime- which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran – has been duly carried out,” the mission said in a post on social media.&nbsp;

<h2>Biden orders US military to aid Israel&nbsp;</h2>

Shortly after the Iranian missile attack on Israel, the White House issued a statement, saying that United States President Joe&nbsp;Biden ordered the American&nbsp;military to aid Israel and shoot down Iranian missiles.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: World Leaders Call For De-Escalation

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The US has lately increased its military presence in the region and played a key role in shooting down Iranian missiles during Tehran’s last strike on Israel on April 13.

The White House added that Biden and Vice President&nbsp;Kamala Harris were monitoring from the Situation Room.

<h2>Hamas commends Iran's attack on Israel</h2>

Hamas on Tuesday, praised&nbsp;Iran's missile attack on Israel and said that it was in revenge for the killing of Hamas leader and Hezbollah chief.&nbsp;

"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) blesses the heroic rocket launches carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran against wide areas of our occupied lands," a statement said, adding it was "in revenge for the blood of our heroic martyrs".

<h2>Germany condemns attack&nbsp;</h2>

Following the attacks, Germany demanded that Iran end its missile attack on Israel, expressing fears that the escalation in the fighting could trigger further conflict.

"I condemn the ongoing attack in the strongest possible terms," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a post on&nbsp;X. She added,&nbsp;"Iran must stop the attack immediately" as it was "leading the region further towards the abyss".

Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday (Oct 1) said the missile attack underway on Israel was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday (Oct 1) said the missile attack underway on Israel was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. "In response to the martyrdom of (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and (Guards commander) Nilforoshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories (Israel)," the Guards said in a statement, the Fars news agency reported. On Tuesday, the Guards also threatened to carry out "crushing attacks" against Israel if it retaliated after the Iranian missile attack. Also read: Iran launches over 100 missiles on Israel, IDF says 10mn civilians under threat "If the Zionist regime reacts to Iranian operations, it will face crushing attacks," the Fars news agency reported citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) statement. Iran on Tuesday fired over 150 missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. Alarms and explosions were heard in Jerusalem. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the missiles targeted key commercial and residential areas, adding that approximately 10 million civilians are the targets of Iranian projectiles. Response to terrorist acts ‘duly carried out’: Iran The Iranian mission to the United Nations said that Israel had concluded the missile attack and warned the Israeli government against carrying out its own retaliation. “Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime- which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran – has been duly carried out,” the mission said in a post on social media. Biden orders US military to aid Israel Shortly after the Iranian missile attack on Israel, the White House issued a statement, saying that United States President Joe Biden ordered the American military to aid Israel and shoot down Iranian missiles. Watch | Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: World Leaders Call For De-Escalation × The US has lately increased its military presence in the region and played a key role in shooting down Iranian missiles during Tehran’s last strike on Israel on April 13. The White House added that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were monitoring from the Situation Room. Hamas commends Iran's attack on Israel Hamas on Tuesday, praised Iran's missile attack on Israel and said that it was in revenge for the killing of Hamas leader and Hezbollah chief. "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) blesses the heroic rocket launches carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran against wide areas of our occupied lands," a statement said, adding it was "in revenge for the blood of our heroic martyrs". Germany condemns attack Following the attacks, Germany demanded that Iran end its missile attack on Israel, expressing fears that the escalation in the fighting could trigger further conflict. "I condemn the ongoing attack in the strongest possible terms," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a post on X. She added, "Iran must stop the attack immediately" as it was "leading the region further towards the abyss". Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Tehran warns of ‘crushing attacks’ if Israel retaliates to Iranian missile barrage

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives.

The spokesman for the presidency of state security said in a statement on state media that three of those arrested had been trained in Iran while the rest were "linked to the cell in various roles".

Cell members "received military and field training, including on how to make explosives, inside Revolutionary Guards sites in Iran" for several weeks in late 2017, he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unga-2020-lebanons-iran-backed-hezbollah-must-be-disarmed-says-saudi-king-salman-329749">UNGA 2020: Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah must be 'disarmed', says Saudi King Salman</a>

The statement said weapons and explosives were confiscated at two locations, a house and a farm, in the Gulf Arab state, the world's largest oil exporter and a key US&nbsp;ally.

On September 23, Saudi Arabia's King&nbsp;Salman&nbsp;bin Abdulaziz had called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon&nbsp;during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.

King&nbsp;Salman had said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism."

Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen. Riyadh has blamed Iran for an unprecedented missile and drone attack on the kingdom's oil facilities last year, a charge Tehran denies.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had broken up a terrorist cell this month that had received training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, arresting 10 people and seizing weapons and explosives. The spokesman for the presidency of state security said in a statement on state media that three of those arrested had been trained in Iran while the rest were "linked to the cell in various roles". Cell members "received military and field training, including on how to make explosives, inside Revolutionary Guards sites in Iran" for several weeks in late 2017, he said. Also read: UNGA 2020: Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah must be 'disarmed', says Saudi King Salman The statement said weapons and explosives were confiscated at two locations, a house and a farm, in the Gulf Arab state, the world's largest oil exporter and a key US ally. On September 23, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz had called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly. King Salman had said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism." Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen. Riyadh has blamed Iran for an unprecedented missile and drone attack on the kingdom's oil facilities last year, a charge Tehran denies.

Terrorist cell trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards busted by Saudi Arabia

Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah last fought a war in 2006, and tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border have been running high

Hezbollah will avenge slain fighter, leader warns Israel

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Iran preparing for war with Israel and US? IRGC takes over Hezbollah amid escalating tensions - What this means

Iran's Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani reported missing after Israeli airstrikes in Beirut

Tehran warns of ‘crushing attacks’ if Israel retaliates to Iranian missile barrage

Terrorist cell trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards busted by Saudi Arabia

Hezbollah will avenge slain fighter, leader warns Israel