Mohammad Reza Zahedi | |
|---|---|
 Zahedi in 2017 | |
| Native name | محمدرضا زاهدی |
| Other names | |
| Born | (1960-11-02)2 November 1960[3] |
| Died | 1 April 2024(2024-04-01) (aged 63) |
| Cause of death | Assassination byairstrike |
| Allegiance |  Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Branch |  IRGC |
| Years of service | 1980–2024 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
Mohammad Reza Zahedi (Persian:محمدرضا زاهدی; 2 November 1960 – 1 April 2024) was an Iranian military officer. A senior figure within theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he had previously commanded theIRGC Aerospace Force and theIRGC Ground Forces,[6] and was commanding theQuds Forceunit 18000 in Lebanon and Syria at the time of his death.[2][7]
In 2024, Zahedi was killed by anIsraeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.[8][9] According to theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation, he was the only Iranian to sit on theShura, or guiding council, of Hezbollah.[10] According toThe Guardian, he was most likely a critical figure in coordinating Iran's relationship withHezbollah in Lebanon and theAssad government of Syria.[11]
Zahedi joined the IRGC at the age of 19[5] and served as a mid-level officer during theIran–Iraq War. He led the 44th Qamar Beni Hashem Division from 1983 to 1986 and later headed the14thImam Hossein Division from 1986 to 1991. He was also the commander of theThar-Allah Headquarters inTehran and had been the deputy of IRGC operations.[6] He was briefly the commander of the IRGC Air Force in 2005.[5] On 21 January 2006, he was appointed as the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces.[6] From 2007 to 2015, he headed the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.[3]
In 2008, Soleimani appointed Zahedi to the position of commander of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps for a second time.[12] This tenure lasted until his assassination by Israel in 2024. Iran's involvement in theSyrian Civil War on the side of the government ofBashar al-Assad has been a source of contention for Israel.[4] Irani advisors and Iran-backed fighters have aided in tipping the balance in favor of Assad's government.[13] According toAl Jazeera, Israeli media had frequently published images of him along withSaeed Izadi, a top Iranian military liaison to Palestinians who was initially rumored to have been killed in the same strike, as the main IRGC-Quds Force officials sought by the country.[5]
"Ultimately, he reached his longstanding wish for martyrdom. I cannot say anything other than he was rewarded by God."
On 1 April 2024, Zahedi was killed by an Israeli airstrike that targeted the consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Syria'sDamascus.[8] Fifteen others were killed in the airstrike.[14] The strike caused "massive destruction" to the consulate building as well as damage to neighbouring buildings,[15] including the Canadian embassy.[10] Zahedi is the most senior IRGC officer to have been killed since theassassination of Qasem Soleimani by the United States in January 2020.[16] After his death, thespokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran condemned the attacks and said that the country reserves the right to execute a "decisive response" against the "aggressors" behind the airstrike, though the Israeli government avoided issuing any statements claiming responsibility.[17]
On 13 April 2024, Iranlaunched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel; the Israeli government stated that it intercepted 99% of the Iranian projectiles, but the attack critically injured a child.[18] On 19 April 2024, Israelattacked an Iranian air defense system in response to the drone and missile barrage a week prior.[19]
Media related toMohammad-Reza Zahedi at Wikimedia Commons| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Air Force 25 August 2005 – 21 January 2006 | Succeeded byas Commander of Aerospace Force |
| Preceded by | Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Ground Force 21 January 2006 – 13 July 2008 | Succeeded by |
| Commander-in-Chief |
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| Chief ofJoint Staff | ||
| Ground Force | ||
| Aerospace Force | ||
| Navy | ||
| Quds Force | ||
| Mobilization Force | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Intelligence Protection |
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| Supreme Leader Representative | ||
| Ministers |
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