The commander of the elite Quds Force branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has made a public appearance on state media after a two-week absence that had sparked speculation about his well-being. Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani was featured in a live broadcast by Iranian state broadcaster IRINN on Tuesday morning, where he was seen participating in a ceremony to receive the body of Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior IRGC figure killed in Lebanon. The funeral for Nilforoushan, who was slain in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, is expected to take place later on Tuesday.
Qaani's absence from official events since the beginning of October had led to rumors and questions regarding his status, with some speculating that he may have suffered a similar fate as his predecessor. However, Iranian officials and state media had consistently refuted these claims, and Qaani's recent appearance has put an end to the uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts.
In 2020, Qaani assumed leadership of Iran’s extensive paramilitary network in the Middle East after taking over from Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike. Despite being sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western nations, Qaani continues to play a significant role in Iran's military operations and regional influence.
