Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force: 'Child of war'

Step out of the shadows

Hours after Major General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated by the US in Baghdad, Iraq, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed 63-year-old General Esmail Ghaani as Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This shows how important the Quds Force is in the Iranian military system. Ghaani is likely to be promoted from Brigadier General to Major General when taking up the new position.

Esmail Ghaani, the new commander of the Quds Force, replaced General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US on January 3, 2020. Photo: AP

Although a relatively new name to the international media, Esmail Ghaani is actually a well-known figure, second only to Soleimani in the Iranian military. One of Ghaani's rare appearances with the international media was in 2017, when the US-Iran relationship began to heat up, Ghaani warned that: "Mr. Trump's threats against Iran will cause damage to the United States."

Ghaani had previously been operating in the shadows, mainly due to US and Western sanctions, but he had long held an important position in the IRGC. Ghaani was not only Soleimani’s deputy but also a comrade and friend. They both fought together in the Iran-Iraq War, conflicts in the post-Islamic Revolution period (1979).

Esmail Ghaani once called himself and his “friend” Soleimani “children of war”. “We were comrades on the battlefield and friends outside of battle”. Born on August 8, 1957, in the Iranian city of Mashhad, Ghaani grew up during the last decade of the monarchy in this Middle Eastern country. Ghaani joined the IRGC in 1980, a year after the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Like Soleimani, he later joined the campaign to quell the Kurdish uprising in Iran.

Esmail Ghaani meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (right) during a meeting with military commanders. Photo: Radio Farda

In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, launching an eight-year war that killed 1 million people. Soleimani, Ghaani and many young IRGC soldiers were sent to the front lines, participating in attacks against the Iraqi army. “The volunteers all knew they would die, but they did not hesitate to rush forward when we ordered them. The commanders treated the soldiers like their children, the soldiers considered the order to go to war as a request from God that they had to carry out,” Ghaani said of the war. Ghaani was among the few soldiers who survived the war and eventually joined the Quds Force shortly after its establishment. Quds - a branch of Iran's IRGC, is under the direct command of Iran's Supreme Leader, specializes in intelligence and special warfare, and has the mission of liberating occupied Muslim lands.

The Quds Force's main mission is to eliminate any anti-government activities, seek out Iran's allies abroad, and propagate and export revolutionary ideology, especially among the Shia Muslim community. The Quds Force is considered the most elite force of the IRGC, helping Iran expand its influence to an unprecedented level in the region, once dubbed "the extended arm helping Iran increase its influence in the Middle East".

Mr. Ghaani is praised as “one of the most accomplished commanders” of the IRGC and has won great trust from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

With such importance, the Quds Force commander is considered the second most powerful figure in Iran after the spiritual leader. Although not as “famous” and powerful as General Soleimani, Mr. Ghaani is praised as “one of the most successful commanders” of the IRGC and has won great trust from the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. While much is still unknown about Ghaani, the sanctions imposed by the US and the West on this figure since 2012 show that he has long been in a position of power in the organization.

Esmail Ghaani next to the coffin of his predecessor. Photo: Reuters

Mission of revenge against America

After Esmail Ghaani was appointed as the head of the Quds Force, Iran's leader, Khamenei, said the force's operations would remain unchanged. One of Ghaani's first tasks will be to oversee any retaliation for Soleimani after the US airstrike that killed him sparked outrage across Iran. In his first statement after taking office, Ghaani said he would "start taking action" to avenge his predecessor's death.

“God has promised revenge and he will be the official avenger. Surely the revenge will be carried out. We will continue the path of the martyr Soleimani, with the same force, and the only way to repay him is to make the Americans withdraw from the region.”

General Ghaani declared

On the morning of January 8, Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at US military bases in Iraq as an act of “blood revenge” for General Soleimani. But that probably won’t be the only act of revenge, although both the US and Iran later announced de-escalation.

A sea of ​​Iranians protested demanding revenge against the US for the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. Photo: AFP

Observers say that Esmail Ghaani will face a double challenge as a new incumbent. First, he will have to escape the “shadow” of Soleimani – a general revered as a legend and a hero in Iran. Many Iranians believe that General Soleimani is “loved” by almost all classes, from politicians to generals in the Iranian army and millions of Muslims in this country. Meanwhile, Esmail Ghaani, although praised, also has “detractors” about his close relationship with Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The new commander of the Quads will have to demonstrate that Iran is determined to continue its policies in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, countries where the Quds Force has long exerted influence. He will also have to plan for the revenge Khamenei has promised for Soleimani, which may not involve direct strikes like the January 8 missile strike. Most importantly, he will have to protect Iran’s strategic assets outside its borders.

Esmail Ghaani (left) will face the challenge of escaping the "shadow" of Soleimani - the general honored as a legend and a hero in Iran. Photo: AFP

In the West, Arab countries and Israel, analysts are drawing up scenarios for future Iranian responses. How Iran responds to the assassination of General Soleimani will be key to understanding the Islamic Republic’s policies. And part of how Iran does this depends on the Quds Force, now led by General Ghaani.