Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday that the Israeli military has successfully targeted and killed Saeed Izadi, a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, during an operation in Qom province, Iran. Katz revealed that Izadi was in charge of the Palestine Corps and had facilitated financial and military support to Hamas, especially during its recent attacks against Israel.
In addition to Izadi, the Israeli military also reported the death of another Quds Force commander, Benham Shariyari, who was eliminated in a vehicle strike in western Tehran. Shariyari was reportedly responsible for overseeing all weapon transfers from Iran to militant proxies across the Middle East, including supplying missiles to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
Although the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has yet to confirm these killings, Katz emphasized that both commander’s deaths represent significant victories for Israeli intelligence and military efforts, particularly given the ongoing conflict initiated by Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023.
The Quds Force has traditionally built a wide network of regional allies, consolidating power through groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. However, this network has experienced considerable setbacks in recent years, especially following targeted Israeli operations aimed at dismantling these alliances.
Katz characterized the elimination of Izadi as a crucial success in Israel’s campaign against Hamas and expressed hope that continued military pressure will further disrupt Iranian influence in the region.
This situation highlights a critical moment in the ongoing conflict and the shifting dynamics in the Middle East, with implications for regional stability and security.