Uncertainty Surrounding Quds Force Leader Esmail Qaani’s Whereabouts

The whereabouts of Brigadier-General Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, remain unknown following reports from local media suggesting he may have been harmed in an Israeli airstrike. According to The New York Times, which cited Iranian media sources, there has been no official confirmation about the circumstances surrounding Qaani’s absence.

The Israeli news outlet N12 reported on the possibility that Qaani was injured during a military operation targeting Hashem Safieddine, deemed a likely successor to the Hezbollah leadership, in southern Beirut. The situation has incited a wave of speculation and concern, particularly among members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who are reportedly unsettled by the silence of Iranian authorities.

In the aftermath of the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces, Qaani was last seen in Tehran only days ago, yet his absence at a high-profile commemoration event led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday has raised suspicions. The NYT cites three sources from Iran indicating that Qaani had traveled to Beirut to meet with Hezbollah officials amid intensified Israeli military activity.

According to a member of the IRGC spoken to by the NYT, the lack of communication from Iranian leadership has fueled widespread anxiety within the paramilitary organization. Army Radio, drawing on Iranian reports, suggested that an update regarding Qaani might be forthcoming through a scheduled interview later in the day.

The recent military operations by Israel have supposedly resulted in substantial casualties among Hezbollah fighters, with reports indicating over 400 combatants eliminated since the beginning of intensified strikes. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated in a televised briefing that these operations included targeted strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with significant leadership casualties as well.

The airstrikes also reportedly disrupted communications with Hashem Safieddine, with multiple sources indicating his last known location during the attacks. Safieddine was reportedly in proximity to Qaani during the strikes dedicated to impeding Hezbollah’s operational capabilities.

This latest development follows Qaani’s succession of Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by a U.S. airstrike in 2020. The opaque nature of the current circumstances surrounding Qaani has further heightened tensions in the already volatile Middle East region.