Ismail Qaani

Succeeded Qasem Soleimani as the commander of the IRGC Quds Force in January 2020, after Soleimani's assassination. Born in 1957 in Mashhad, Iran, Qaani had served as Soleimani’s deputy for years and was involved in the Quds Force’s operations across the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq. Qaani’s leadership is seen as a continuation of Soleimani’s policies, focusing on extending Iran’s influence in regional conflicts and supporting Iranian-backed militias. He has been less publicly prominent than his predecessor but continues to maintain a strong operational command of Iran’s extraterritorial military efforts.