Iranian FM confirms death of IRGC deputy commander

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed the death of the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Abbas Nilforushan in Beirut.

He said Israel would be held responsible for the assassination of Abbas Nilforushan, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“This terrible crime of the aggressive Zionist regime will never go unanswered,” Araghchi wrote to the head of the IRGC Lieutenant General Hossein Salami in a letter of condolence, its text quoted by the press service of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Nilforushan was killed in an Israeli airstrike that also claimed the life of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to Iranian media reports.

The strike occurred in Beirut on September 27 as part of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has pushed the conflict closer to becoming a full-scale regional confrontation.

Nilforushan, 58, held a senior position as the deputy commander for operations in the Revolutionary Guard, overseeing ground forces. His presence in Lebanon during the strike has raised questions, although his role in the region highlights Iran’s long-standing support of Hezbollah.

The Tehran Times and other state-run media confirmed his death, with Iranian officials, including Ahmad Reza Pour Khaghan, deputy head of Iran’s judiciary, describing him as a "guest to the people of Lebanon." Khaghan stressed that Iran reserves the right to retaliate under international law.

Nilforushan’s death adds to the growing list of casualties within Iran's military leadership as Israel continues its operations against Hezbollah, which has been heavily involved in the conflict. Iranian support for Hezbollah has long been a source of tension, with the Guard’s Quds Force arming and training the militia in Lebanon.

The airstrike marks a significant blow to Iran’s military presence in the region, coming on the heels of the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed in Tehran earlier this year. Both Hezbollah and Iran have vowed retaliation for these high-profile losses, intensifying concerns of a broader Middle Eastern war. 

By Khagan Isayev