Iran’s Quds Force leader reportedly killed in Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah

Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that targeted Hashim Safiuddin, a prominent figure in Hezbollah.

Qaani, who succeeded Qassem Soleimani as Iran’s leader for foreign operations, played a pivotal role in shaping Iran’s military strategy throughout the region.

The attack took place in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, on Friday, Oct. 4, amid escalating violence in the Middle East following Israel’s strikes on Gaza and Lebanon. In response, Iran launched hundreds of missiles, raising concerns about a potential wider regional conflict.

While Safiuddin was the primary target of the airstrike, reports indicate that Qaani was also killed. Israeli Channel 12 stated that Lebanese authorities confirmed Qaani’s death, though this information has yet to be independently verified.

In recent months, Qaani had been active in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, meeting with high-profile figures, including Fouad Shukr, who Israel assassinated in July.

Some sources, such as Al Arabiya, speculated that Qaani may have been under increased surveillance and possibly isolated following Israeli operations aimed at senior Iranian leaders.

In a separate report, Saudi Arabian media suggested that Qaani might have been executed by Iran on suspicion of collaborating with the Mossad, further complicating the narrative surrounding his death.

Who is Esmail Qaani?

Qaani was born on August 8, 1957, in Mashhad, Iran. He joined the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in 1982 following the 1979 revolution.

Often regarded as a lesser-known figure in both Western and Iranian media, Qaani followed a career path similar to that of his predecessor, Soleimani.

Qaani played a key role in suppressing uprisings after the Shah’s overthrow and participated in the Iran-Iraq War, a conflict that claimed over a million lives. In 1988, he was appointed deputy commander of the 8th Operational Zone of the Revolutionary Guards Ground Forces, based in Mashhad.

Having worked closely with Soleimani in the Quds Force, Qaani held positions in the counterintelligence unit and managed drug operations in Afghanistan and Iran.

Following Soleimani’s death in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed Qaani as the new commander of the Quds Force.