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With Iranian Commander's Funeral, Tears of Quds Force Leader End Speculations About His Fate
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The timing of Qa'ani's appearance after weeks of absence raises questions about the real reasons behind his disappearance, and whether it was related to secret military movements or heightened securit
Tuesday witnessed the return of Esmail Qa'ani, commander of the Quds Force, to the spotlight after weeks of absence that sparked widespread controversy. Qa'ani appeared during the funeral ceremony of General Abbas Nilforooshan, a prominent leader in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who was killed last month alongside Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Israeli raids targeting the southern suburb of Beirut.
Iranian state television broadcast the funeral proceedings live, showing Qa'ani visibly affected. Footage captured the Iranian commander covering his face and wiping away tears while listening to religious hymns, which sparked widespread reactions among Iranians on social media platforms.
It's worth noting that the Revolutionary Guard had repeatedly confirmed in recent days that Qa'ani, 67, was in good health and continuing his duties as usual. These confirmations came amid numerous speculations about Qa'ani's fate, especially since his last public appearance was in late September 2024.
The intensity of speculations increased after two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters last week that contact had been lost with Qa'ani since the strikes targeting Beirut in late September.
Qa'ani's last documented appearance was on September 29, two days after Nasrallah's assassination, when he visited the office of Hezbollah's representative in Tehran, Abdullah Safi al-Din, brother of the party's executive body chairman Hashem Safi al-Din. However, his notable absence from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's sermon last Friday (October 4), which was held to commemorate Nasrallah, raised more questions about his status.
This public appearance of Qa'ani comes at a sensitive time, as Iran seeks to demonstrate the continuity of its military leadership amid escalating tensions with Israel. It also raises questions about the real reasons behind his long absence, and whether there were hidden strategic movements that could affect the regional scene in the near future.
Levant-Agencies
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