Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani survives Israeli airstrike in Beirut
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Iran’s top Quds Force Commander, Esmail Qaani, is confirmed to be in good health following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week, according to Iranian officials.
Deputy Commander Iraj Masjedi dismissed concerns over Qaani’s well-being, stating, "He is in good health and carrying out his duties. There is no need for an official statement."
Qaani had reportedly been out of contact after a series of strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, which targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine. While Qaani was present in the Dahiyeh area during the strikes, sources clarified he was not meeting Safieddine at the time, reported Reuters.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran, has included several attacks in the region, as tensions continue to escalate.
Qaani, who took command of the Quds Force after the assassination of his predecessor Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in 2020, oversees Iran’s military-intelligence operations and influences allied militias across the Middle East. Despite recent events, officials assure that Qaani remains active in his role.