After the apparent abduction of Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, one of Iran’s most formidable officers, the Iranian military establishment erupted in rumours and rumours that he had become a critic of the regime. Qaani, 67, who commands Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, the senior group behind Iran’s international military campaign, was missing since an attack on a Hezbollah bunker in Beirut on Oct. 4.
It was thought to have been a meeting of senior Hezbollah commanders, but Qaani’s defection has been suspect, and rumors have swirled that he had deserted Iran’s Islamist government. His disappearance has enraged Iran’s military, Nasrallah, the 64-year-old Hezbollah leader, was recently assassinated in a separate attack. And it is now speculated that Qaani is involved in this assassination.
Although Iranian authorities reportedly have reported that Qaani is “alive and in good health” and has not had an indictment, reports from Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran suggest that Qaani may be placed under house arrest and questioned. This investigation seems to be a probe into his possible involvement as a mole in the Iranian regime, perhaps operative of Israeli intelligence agency that has made successful strikes against Iranian and Hezbollah installations.
Qaani’s troubles allegedly began with September 27 murder of Nasrallah, resulting in a mad hunt for an Israeli informer among the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Qaani who now allegedly is Israel’s best-kept secret has come the center of internal investigation.
In his absence, the Revolutionary Guard Corps attested to Qaani’s nearly tragic survival during the bunker attack on 4 October. Hezbollah heir apparent Hashem Safieddine 60 and others were said to have been killed in the Israeli bombing that razed the area in southern Beirut where the meeting took place. Safieddine, who was to ascend to a leadership position within Hezbollah, was regarded as a leader of the organization’s leadership council.
Israel has been carrying out multiple precision strikes against Iranian and Hezbollah commanders, through advanced intelligence systems and cutting edge weapons, over the past few weeks. These include pager and walkie-talkie bombings that have proved to be extremely effective at eliminating enemy commanders in the area.
Now that Esmail Qaani is the focus of a potentially costly probe, Iran’s military establishment is reportedly teetering on the edge of internal panic and out-of-control aggression. It is yet to be seen whether Qaani’s defection represents betrayal or another ego battle inside Iran’s armed forces, but the stakes are huge as Israel is continuing to smash down its terrorist enemies with near-infinite speed.
For more detailed information, visit The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.
