Israel-Iranian War: In the dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Esmail Qaani, commander of Iranian elite forces, allegedly killed in the Israeli air strike in Iran, according to The New York Times, quoted by Iranian officials who were acquainted with development.
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The Israeli strike took place during their extensive military operations against Iranian nuclear and military goals, known as Operation Rising Lion, launched in the first hours of Friday, June 13.
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Esmail
Esmail Qaani took over the command of the Iranian force Quds after the assassination of his predecessor Qas Soleimani, in the American drone strike in 2020.
Qaani launched his military career during the War in Iran and Iraq at the age of 80 and led several brigades before he became deputy commander Quds Force in 1997 and served under Soleimani. Unlike Soleimani, which was often seen on front lines with militias supported by Tehran in Iraq and Syria, Qaani maintained a lower profile, performing meetings privately and far from a public perspective. His leadership agreed in time with the increased Israeli air strikes against Iranian representatives such as Hezbollah and other paramilitary groups.
In October 2024, Qaani was reported when Israeli aviation strikes targeted Dahiyeh. After the death of Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Pasrallah, who was killed on an Israeli strike at the end of September, he traveled to Lebanon. The attack also focused on Hashem Safieddine, Pasrallah’s anticipated successor, which has been unattainable since then.
Qaani commanded respect from Iranian allies, including Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militia and Houthis in Yemen. However, analysts note that its leadership was less prominent, partly because it does not speak Arabic, and limits its ability to build strong relationships with Arab militias in Iraq and Lebanon.
Yet Qaani has committed himself to continue the mission of Soleimani to exclude US forces from West Asia. In a statement broadcast before Soleimani’s funeral, he said, “We promise to continue the journeyman Soleimani with the same force … And the only compensation would be to remove America from the region.”
Israeli attacks on Iran kill the head of the commander
Israeli defensive forces (IDF) confirmed that their attacks focused on a number of higher Iranian commanders and key military installations. Along with Qaani, at least nine other commanders and several nuclear scientists were reportedly killed.
The strikes hit more places, including the nuclear place of Natanz, military foundations and underground commands of bunkers, where top Iranian military leaders convened.
Among other remarkable victims were the commander of the Air Force IRGC Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Hossein Salami and Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Mohammad Bagheri.
The Iranian state media confirmed the death of several higher officials and reported extensive damage to Iranian nuclear infrastructure, even though they have denied some of Israel’s claims.
The IDF said the strikes focused on the planned planned Iranian attacks and seriously paralyzed Iranian military skills. The operation takes place with other attacks reported near Tabriz Airport and other nuclear places.
(Tagstotranslate) Israel Airstrike
