Iranian General Esmail Qaani’s Whereabouts Uncertain as Investigation into Alleged Ties with Israel Follows Israeli Assault on Hezbollah

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, is reportedly under investigation after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted key leaders of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon

This scrutiny follows Israel’s significant strike on September 27, which allegedly resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

Since the attack, Qaani has not appeared in public, prompting speculation about his status and safety.

Some Arab media outlets suggest that he is alive but under guard as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) investigates possible security breaches that enabled Israel to identify and target senior Hezbollah officials.

Sky News Arabic reported that Qaani is being questioned regarding alleged connections to Israel, with claims that he suffered a heart attack during the interrogation process.

These developments raise serious concerns about the internal security of Iranian military leadership amid escalating tensions with Israel.

Further complicating the situation, Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to succeed Nasrallah, is believed to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on October 4, heightening fears of compromised Iranian commanders within Hezbollah. This incident marks the latest in a series of Israeli operations that have reportedly eliminated more than a dozen top Hezbollah figures in recent weeks.

In addition to targeted airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

According to Israeli military sources, over 200 Hezbollah operatives were killed during these recent raids, which successfully destroyed multiple tunnels and rocket-launching facilities along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that military operations will continue until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to northern Israel, where tens of thousands of residents have been displaced due to ongoing conflict.

The Quds Force, under Qaani’s leadership, has been instrumental in supporting various militant groups opposed to Israel, including Palestinian Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.

Qaani succeeded Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the U.S. in 2020 and has focused on enhancing the operational capabilities of these groups in the region.

As tensions continue to rise, the implications of these developments for regional stability remain uncertain.

Stay tuned for further updates.