An Israeli airstrike in Beirut has killed a prominent Iranian general from the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Abbas Nilforushan, alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian media reported on Saturday. The strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has persisted for nearly a year, and raises concerns of the conflict spilling over into a broader regional war.
The Tehran Times reported that Gen. Nilforushan, 58, was killed on Friday in the same attack that targeted Nasrallah in Lebanon. His death, confirmed by Ahmad Reza Pour Khaghan, deputy head of Iran’s judiciary, adds to the mounting pressure on Tehran to retaliate. Khaghan described Nilforushan as a “guest to the people of Lebanon” and asserted that Iran reserves the right to retaliate under international law.
Nilforushan was a high-ranking commander within the Revolutionary Guard and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 for his role in suppressing protests in Iran. The sanctions followed the nationwide demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict hijab rules.
Throughout his career, Nilforushan played a key role in various conflicts across the Middle East, including supporting President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian Civil War. He was also closely associated with Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.
The deaths of both Nilforushan and Nasrallah, a key figure in Lebanon’s Hezbollah, signal a critical moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The situation is further complicated by Iran’s delicate position as it faces economic pressure due to crippling Western sanctions while signaling an interest in diplomacy. However, this latest blow may push Tehran closer to direct involvement in the conflict.
Israel has yet to officially comment on the strike.