TEHRAN – A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) was assassinated during Israeli attacks on a number of residential buildings in southern Beirut, which also killed Hezbollah Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. 

In a statement released on Sunday, the IRGC announced that Brigadier General Abbas Nilforooshan was pronounced martyred alongside Nasrallah. The statement hailed the deceased military official for making “heroic sacrifices in line with the Palestinian cause” while condemning the Israeli regime for its latest crimes in Lebanon. 

Nilforooshan had been serving as the commander of the IRGC in Lebanon, taking the role after his predecessor Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi was assassinated during an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus on April 1. 

It is still not clear when and where funeral ceremonies will take place to mourn the martyrdom of the seasoned commander, who spent several years in different ranks of Iran’s military.  Footage shows the buildings targeted by Israel on Friday were completely pulverized. 

Life and endeavors

Nilforooshan’s career was marked by both battlefield experience and high-level command positions.

Born in Esfahan in 1966, Nilforooshan began his military activities by joining the Basij volunteering forces at the age of 14.  He fought on different fronts during the Iran-Iraq war before joining the 14th Imam Hossein Division and the 8th Najaf Ashraf Armored Division.

After the war, Nilforooshan stayed in the military, holding key positions within the IRGC Ground Forces. These included Deputy of Operations Commander, Commander of the IRGC Command and Staff College, and Deputy to the IRGC Commander-in-Chief. He also served as Executive Deputy of the IRGC and Deputy Operations Commander during Brigadier General Zahedi's tenure.

In 2019, Nilforooshan became the Deputy Operations Commander of the IRGC. His resume also includes extensive experience in Lebanon and Syria, where he spent multiple years working on military operations.

Nilforooshan is one of the countless IRGC figures who was martyred for security and peace in the region.

‘Assassination of Gen. Nilforooshan will not go unanswered’

In a statement released on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who used to be a soldier under the IRGC, offered condolences on Nilforooshan’s martyrdom, stating that Israel will be held accountable for his assassination. 

“This vicious and cowardly act is another clear sign of the terrorist and criminal nature of the Zionist regime and its known supporters. Without a doubt, this horrible crime of the Zionist regime will not go unanswered,” Araqchi wrote. “The Iranian foreign ministry will also use all its political, diplomatic, legal, and international capacities to bring to justice the Israeli criminals and their supporters,” he added.