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Security Cracks Shake Iran.. Ghaani's Absence Raises Suspicions About His Involvement in Assassinations
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Ghaani's absence from the scene after the recent series of assassinations raises serious doubts about his involvement in leaking information, which could lead to a collapse of trust within the Iranian
Israeli Channel 12 reported information about Lebanese security agencies initiating their investigations to verify news related to the injury of the Iranian Quds Force commander in air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.
Suspicions surround the fate of the Quds Force commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard since the elimination of Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah. Sources from "Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" indicate the possibility that Esmail Ghaani is under investigation and isolation, following a series of Israeli assassinations targeting prominent Iranian leaders.
The last public appearance of the Iranian official was in the office of Hezbollah's representative in Tehran, Abdullah Safi al-Din, specifically 48 hours after the assassination of Lebanese Hezbollah militia's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli raid targeting his stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs.
"Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" sources confirmed that Ghaani repeatedly moved between Baghdad, Damascus, and Beirut, which he visited three times since the October 7 attacks. In all his visits, Ghaani met with Nasrallah and Fouad Shukr, who was assassinated by Israel at the end of last July.
During the meeting at Hezbollah's command headquarters in the southern suburbs that Israel bombed, Ghaani informed the participants of his intention to join them accompanied by his office manager called "Ehsan," but he later withdrew from attending, according to the sources.
The Israeli bombing came to target the meeting that Ghaani missed at the last moments, and this incident put Ghaani in the circle of accusation, to the extent that some linked his disappearance to the possibility of him being subjected to investigation regarding Nasrallah's elimination.
The potential breach scenarios revolve around three axes: Esmail Ghaani himself, his office manager "Ehsan," or the preventive security apparatus of the Quds Force. In Hezbollah circles, there is a prevailing belief that the breach occurred through Ghaani personally.
While some Iranian circles believe that his office manager "Ehsan" might be the infiltrated element and not Ghaani, who in turn suspects that the preventive security of the Quds Force he heads is the involved party.
Going back to last April, attention was drawn to Ghaani's participation in the "True Promise One" operations room, when Iran responded to the targeting of its consulate in Damascus, and at that time, the Iranian official issued a statement and made press and television statements.
In contrast, Ghaani was absent from the scene in the announcement of "True Promise Two" operations, which came in retaliation for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Nasrallah, and Abbas Nilforoushan. Therefore, "Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" sources suggested that Ghaani might be under surveillance and quarantine.
Levant-Agencies
