Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani Missing After Beirut Airstrikes; Iran Unable to Contact Him

Oct 6, 2024, 07:50 AM

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Esmail Qaani, the Commander of Iran's Quds Force and successor to Qasem Soleimani, may have been killed or injured in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Israeli media, including Channel 12, claim that Qaani was possibly in a bunker targeted by Israeli forces. He was last seen in Beirut last week, where he reportedly met with senior Hezbollah officials. Iranian officials told Reuters that they have not heard from Qaani since the strikes, causing panic among the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran has denied reports of his death, and state media stated that he was not in Beirut during the week. Investigations into his whereabouts are ongoing, with speculation about his fate continuing to mount.