Iran's Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani reported missing after Israeli airstrikes in Beirut
Chief of Iran’s elite Quds Force Esmail Qaani
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.
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.
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)
