The Quds Force is one of the most powerful and shadowy arms of Iran’s military and has long played a central role in Tehran’s covert operations across the Middle East. For years, it has been used to arm and train militias across the region to confront Israel, and to help Tehran expand its influence.
The Israeli military said on Monday that it had hit the Quds Force’s command center in Tehran. The claim could not be immediately verified but it would mark a significant blow against a crucial player in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Here’s a look at what the Quds Force is, how it operates, and why it is so important in the escalating clash between Iran and Israel.
What is the Quds Force?
It is an elite unit within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, tasked with overseeing the country’s foreign operations and support for proxy groups across the Middle East. Named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem, the Quds Force reports directly to the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Quds Force has long played a central role in supporting what Iran called the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of militias and political movements across the region that oppose Israel and the United States.
The unit has trained, armed and funded groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Shiite militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. Before Israeli offensives severely weakened this regional network, these alliances allowed Iran to exert its influence across the Middle East, shaping the political landscapes of neighboring states in its favor. This included shoring up the Assad regime in Syria and arming Hezbollah to provide a forward line of defense for Iran along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
The Quds Force is also believed to have orchestrated operations beyond the Middle East, in Latin America and Europe, according to the U.S. government and intelligence agencies. Activities have included plots to assassinate dissidents, smuggle weapons and conduct espionage targeting U.S. and allied interests.
Who are its leaders?
For more than two decades, the Quds Force was led by Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who spearheaded Tehran’s ambitions to build an axis of military groups across the region to defend Iran’s interests and counter the United States and Israel. Mr. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike authorized by President Trump in Baghdad in January 2020, dealing a significant blow to the organization.
He was replaced by Gen. Esmail Ghaani, but some analysts say that the unit’s reach and effectiveness has been under strain without General Soleimani’s personal networks and strategic expertise.
How has it fought with Israel?
Before the latest escalation, the Quds Force had been at the center of the long-running covert conflict between Iran and Israel.
The regional adversaries have clashed indirectly through cyberattacks, sabotage operations, targeted assassinations, and maritime attacks. For years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria — including weapons convoys, drone and missile sites, and military infrastructure. Much of it was operated or supplied by the Quds Force and its allied militias, according to Israeli officials and analysts.
Israel’s assault in recent days has already killed several senior Iranian commanders. A successful strike against the Quds Force — the nerve center of Iran’s military footprint across the region — would represent one of Israel’s most consequential attacks.
Euan Ward is a reporter contributing to The Times from Beirut.
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