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Iran's Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani Missing After Israeli Airstrike on Hashem Safieddine

Oct 6, 2024, 09:03 AM

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, was either killed or injured in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Qaani, who succeeded Qasem Soleimani, was reportedly in a bunker targeted by Israel along with Hashem Safieddine. Israeli and Lebanese media have reported conflicting accounts, with some suggesting he was killed and others indicating he was injured. Iranian state media has denied these claims, stating that Qaani was not in Beirut. However, multiple sources, including Israeli Channel 12 and Reuters, indicate that Qaani has not been heard from since the strikes. Qaani had traveled to Lebanon following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to meet with senior Hezbollah officials. The Israeli news outlet N12 reported that the silence of senior Iranian officials regarding Qaani's status is causing panic among the ranks of the IRGC.