Iran has confirmed the recovery of Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan’s body, who was killed alongside Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The IRGC is also facing scrutiny over the whereabouts of Quds Force leader Esmail Qaani amidst an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed the recovery of the body of Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander of the Quds Force, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 27, 2023. The strike occurred during a meeting with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at an operations center in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Following extensive recovery efforts, the IRGC announced that plans for the return and funeral of Nilforoushan will be disclosed at a later date. In recent developments, further scrutiny has ensued regarding the whereabouts of Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force, who has not made a public appearance since before the airstrike. Reports suggest that Qaani was present in Beirut during another airstrike on October 4, which potentially targeted his expected successor, Hashem Safieddine. Amid speculation concerning Qaani’s health and fate, sources indicate he remains under protective custody due to an ongoing Iranian investigation into security lapses that allegedly allowed Israel to target both Nasrallah and Nilforoushan.
The incident reflects escalating tensions in the region, wherein Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel are actively engaged in a complex geopolitical struggle. The Quds Force, an elite unit within the IRGC, has long been strategically involved in supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon and conducting operations in Syria. The killing of key Iranian military figures by Israel marks a significant shift in regional dynamics and amplifies concerns regarding potential Israeli intelligence operations penetrating Iranian ranks. Additionally, the Iranian military response has been heightened following such provocations, leading to a tumultuous period characterized by military escalations and retaliatory threats.
In summary, the recovery of Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan’s body underlines the severe implications of the Israeli airstrike on Iranian command structures in Lebanon. As Iran grapples with safety and operational integrity within its military hierarchy, particularly with the concerning absence of Qaani, the IRGC remains on high alert. The unfolding events underscore an increasingly precarious and volatile security landscape in the region, which warrants ongoing international vigilance.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
