Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, has gone missing following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that may have resulted in the death of Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to the recently slain Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
According to a report by The New York Times, Qaani was last seen in Beirut, where he was dispatched to assist Hezbollah in recovering from a series of Israeli attacks.
Following the airstrike on Friday, his whereabouts remain uncertain, with conflicting reports from various Arab and Israeli sources suggesting that he may be either dead or wounded.
Lebanese security forces have also lost contact with Safieddine, heightening concerns regarding Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Iranian media noted that Qaani was absent from a memorial service held for Nasrallah, which has led to speculation about his fate.
An Iranian soldier expressed to The New York Times that the ambiguity surrounding Qaani’s status is causing panic among Iranian troops.
The airstrike in Beirut is part of a broader campaign of Israeli attacks that followed Iran’s launch of over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel as retaliation for Nasrallah’s assassination.
Israel has continued its bombardment of Hezbollah targets, most recently launching extensive strikes on the outskirts of Beirut, with explosions reported to be visible from at least 20 miles away.
Qaani took over leadership of the Quds Force after the assassination of Qassem Suleimani by the U.S. in 2020.
He has been noted for his commitment to supporting and coordinating with regional anti-Israel factions, including Hezbollah and Palestinian groups.
In a previous statement on Al Jazeera, he remarked, “We tell everyone, be patient and see the dead bodies of Americans all over the Middle East.”
As the situation develops, both Qaani’s fate and the future of Hezbollah leadership remain uncertain, raising tensions across the region.
