Iran’s Qaani missing after Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
Iranian Quds Force leader Qaani uncontactable post-Beirut strikes
Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, travelled to Lebanon following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month. Qaani has not been heard from since the strikes on Beirut late last week, according to two senior Iranian security officials. One official mentioned Qaani was in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs during a strike that reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine. However, the official clarified Qaani was not meeting Safieddine at that time.
A Hezbollah representative stated that Israel hindered the search for Safieddine after it bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday. The group will only reveal Safieddine’s status once the search concludes. Seen as a potential successor to Nasrallah, Safieddine’s fate remains uncertain. Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike on Dahiyeh on September 27.
The Iranian official noted that both Iran and Hezbollah have been unable to contact Qaani, who was appointed as the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force following the assassination of his predecessor Qassem Soleimani by a US drone strike in Baghdad in 2020. Israel continues to target multiple locations in Dahiyeh as part of its campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
OMG, if true this is HUUUUGE.
Esmail Qaani, Qassem Suleimani deputy and the new head of the Quds force after the killing of Suleimani may have secretly be in Lebanon and inside the bunker where Hashim Safi a-Din, Nasrallah's replacement was.
If true, he is most probably killed. pic.twitter.com/haswDCyPtv— David Meir 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 (@C43LOcDWUss58oc) October 5, 2024
Another Iranian official confirmed that Qaani had travelled to Lebanon after Nasrallah’s death and that Iranian authorities have failed to reach him since the strike on Safieddine, the anticipated next Hezbollah leader. Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani mentioned that the results of the recent strikes are still under assessment. He indicated Israel conducted an attack last week on Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut and will share specific results once available. There are many questions about the strike’s impact.
The Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, manages relations with militias allied with Tehran throughout the Middle East, including Hezbollah. Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards was killed alongside Nasrallah in his bunker when it was hit by Israeli bombs on September 27.
What Other Media Are Saying
- USNews.com reports that Iran’s Quds Force Chief Esmail Qaani remains out of contact since Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, highlighting Iran and Hezbollah’s inability to reach him.
Key points include:
– Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, has not been heard from since the airstrikes in Beirut.
– He was in Lebanon following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
– Iranian authorities have lost contact with Qaani after the strikes targeting senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine.
– This situation underscores the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with significant implications for regional stability and the operations of Iran’s proxies in the Middle East.The article emphasizes the lack of communication with Qaani, the ongoing conflict, and its impact on Iran and Hezbollah’s operations.(read more)
- The Hindu: Iran’s Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani is missing since Beirut strikes, two Iranian officials say, amid Israel’s campaign targeting Hezbollah.(read more)
- Reuters reports Iran’s Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani is out of contact since Beirut strikes, fueling speculation about his fate amid ongoing Israeli operations against Hezbollah.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani?
Qaani has not been heard from since Israeli strikes on Beirut last week.
Was Esmail Qaani meeting Hashem Safieddine during the Beirut strike?
No, Qaani was not meeting Safieddine during the strike.
Has Hezbollah confirmed Hashem Safieddine’s fate?
No, Hezbollah will announce Safieddine’s fate once the search concludes.
Who is expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah leader?
Hashem Safieddine is seen as a likely successor to Nasrallah.
What was the response of the Israeli military about the strike on Beirut?
The Israeli military is still assessing the results of the strikes.
