Iranian General Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, is in good health, according to the force’s deputy commander, Iraj Masjedi. This clarification came after speculation arose about Qaani’s whereabouts and well-being following Israeli air strikes in Beirut last week.
Qaani had been out of contact since the strikes, leading to rumors that he might have been killed or injured. However, Masjedi assured that Qaani is “in good health and is carrying out his activities.”
The speculation about Qaani’s status was fueled by his absence from important events, including Friday prayers led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Additionally, a message from Qaani was conveyed to a conference in Tehran, indicating he was unable to attend due to other important meetings.
Israel has been conducting a series of airstrikes in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah positions and leaders. One of these strikes was aimed at Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official, but Israeli sources indicated they were not aware of Qaani’s presence during the strike.
Esmail Qaani took over as the commander of the Quds Force after the death of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. Qaani has been a key figure in Iran‘s military strategy, although he has maintained a lower public profile compared to Soleimani.
