Iranian state TV recently aired footage of Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, making a public appearance in Tehran. Qaani had not been seen in public for several weeks, causing speculation about his whereabouts and well-being.
The broadcast showed Qaani attending a memorial ceremony for a senior Revolutionary Guard commander who was killed in Lebanon. This public appearance comes amid reports that Qaani may have been injured in an Israeli strike on Beirut last week.
The Quds Force, a division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is responsible for unconventional warfare and intelligence operations outside of Iran. Qaani took over as commander of the Quds Force following the assassination of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, in a US drone strike in January 2020.
The appearance of Qaani in Tehran has sparked renewed interest in the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as the involvement of Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in the region. The situation remains fluid and continues to be monitored closely by observers and analysts.
Watch the video by Al Jazeera English
Video “Iranian state TV shows IRGC Quds Force commander in Tehran” was uploaded on 10/15/2024 to Youtube Channel Al Jazeera English