Iran's Quds chief, Hezbollah leader unreachable since Beirut strikes

Irans Quds force chief, Hezbollah leader unreachable since Beirut strikes — Hashem Safieddine (L), the potential successor to slain Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani, 2022. Photo: iKurd.net/SM/YT video/WANA via Reuters

Israel says Hezbollah’s Safieddine probably dead

BEIRUT,— The ongoing military conflict in Lebanon has left significant gaps in leadership for both Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force, with critical figures reportedly out of contact following recent Israeli airstrikes.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli strike last month, and speculation regarding his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine, has intensified as he has been unreachable since Israeli forces targeted him in a bombing raid on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

On Friday, a Lebanese security source indicated that Safieddine has been out of communication since the Israeli military conducted a substantial strike aimed at his location.

The airstrike occurred late Thursday, targeting what Israeli officials described as an underground bunker housing senior Hezbollah personnel. This escalation follows a broader Israeli campaign against the Iran-backed group, which has resulted in a series of targeted operations over the past year.

The security situation in Dahiyeh, a prominent Hezbollah stronghold, has worsened significantly due to continuous airstrikes, which have hindered rescue operations in the aftermath of the attacks. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine’s status, raising concerns about the implications for the group’s leadership structure and its operational capabilities.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reported that approximately 440 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in ground operations, alongside the destruction of over 2,000 Hezbollah targets. However, these developments also reflect a wider strategy aimed at undermining the group’s leadership amid an intensifying conflict. The implications of Safieddine’s potential absence as a successor to Nasrallah would pose a significant challenge for Hezbollah and its Iranian benefactors.

Adding to the uncertainty, Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, has also reportedly gone missing since the airstrikes on Beirut. According to two senior Iranian security officials, Qaani was in the Dahiyeh area during the strikes targeting Safieddine. Iranian authorities have been unable to establish contact with him since the attacks, prompting concerns about his safety and whereabouts.

The Quds Force plays a vital role in coordinating Iran’s military and intelligence efforts across the region, and Qaani’s leadership has been particularly important following the assassination of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, by U.S. forces in 2020. Iranian officials confirmed that Qaani traveled to Lebanon after Nasrallah’s death, underscoring the close ties between Iran and Hezbollah during this turbulent period.

Amidst speculation regarding Qaani’s fate, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani remarked that the consequences of the strikes are still being assessed. Reports suggest that one of the targets was Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, further indicating the strategic focus of Israeli operations in Lebanon.

In response to the rumors surrounding Qaani’s well-being, Iraj Masjedi, the deputy commander of the Quds Force, asserted on Monday that Qaani is in “good health” and continues to fulfill his duties. Masjedi downplayed the need for further public statements about Qaani’s status, suggesting that such absences during intense military operations are not uncommon for leaders in the region.

As the conflict between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iranian interests continues to escalate, the uncertainty surrounding the leadership of both Hezbollah and the Quds Force poses significant challenges. The operational capabilities of these groups may be compromised as they navigate the ramifications of these losses, raising questions about their future strategies and potential responses to ongoing Israeli military pressure.

Safieddine is probably dead, Israel says

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the likely successor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appears to have been “eliminated.” Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah figure expected to succeed Nasrallah, has not been heard from since an Israeli airstrike late last week.

“Hezbollah is now leaderless. Nasrallah was taken out, and his potential successor seems to have been as well,” Gallant told officers at Israel’s northern military command in a brief video released by the military. “There’s no one left to make decisions or take action,” he added, without offering additional details.

Iran’s Quds Force Chief Qaani in Good Health, Set to Receive Medal from Supreme Leader

On Wednesday, a senior adviser from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that the commander of the Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, is in excellent health and is expected to receive a medal from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei soon.

Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to Qaani, confirmed to the semi-official Tasnim news agency that Qaani will be awarded the Fath medal in the coming days.

(With files from Reuters)