Iran Expects Imminent Israeli Attack, Prepares Revenge Plans: Fate of General Qaani 'Consciously Concealed'

tel aviv - As the Israeli population mourns, generals are finalizing plans for a retaliatory attack. Iran is making revenge plans.

Meanwhile, Israel seems to have dealt another heavy blow to its main enemies: the intended new Hezbollah leader and Iran's top general have been missing for days. Israeli media estimate that Esmail Qaani, the head of Iran's Al-Quds brigade, was injured in an attack on Beirut. Others speculate that he may have already passed away. Also, Hashem Sadi-al-Din, the possible successor to Hassan Nasrallah, has not been heard from in days. The pair may have been together in a bunker targeted by an Israeli airstrike.

Qaani was reportedly sent to Lebanon by Ayatollah Khamenei last week to aid Hezbollah in recovering. The terrorist organization, also Iran's key partner, has suffered major setbacks in recent weeks. Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike, which also claimed the life of the number two of the Al-Quds brigade.

Iran may be deliberately keeping quiet about Qaani's fate, knowing that acknowledging Israel's role in his death would necessitate retaliation. Tehran is currently preparing for an Israeli attack, with revenge plans reportedly already in place. Commentators suggest that the Revolutionary Guard is poised to launch a thousand rockets at Israel, including civilian targets.

Israel has decided to respond forcefully to the Iranian attack a week ago with 180 ballistic missiles. The damage caused by these may be greater than Israel is willing to admit. More than twenty missiles reportedly hit three different bases, with Israel maintaining that only limited damage was done, particularly to administrative buildings.

It remains unclear what targets Israel will strike in Iran. The United States is keen on sparing oil and nuclear facilities, leaving military targets such as weapon depots, launch sites, and command centers vulnerable. Defense Minister Gallant is flying to Washington for consultations on Wednesday, although an Israeli attack before then cannot be ruled out.

Esmail Qaani succeeded Qassem Soleimani, the cunning general who meticulously built the 'axis of resistance' with pro-Iranian militias in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza. Soleimani was assassinated by the US in 2020 with Israeli assistance. Under Qaani, Israel is now swiftly dismantling Soleimani's work, leading some Iranians to jokingly speculate online that he is a Mossad spy now in Israel.

Qaani was absent from the prayer in Tehran last Friday, which was led by Khamenei for the first time in almost five years, similar to the period following Soleimani's death. The Ayatollah described the October 7 attack as 'logical and legal', asserting that the axis of resistance will not yield to the Jewish state.

Last week, Israel launched a heavy attack on Dahieh, the Hezbollah stronghold in South Beirut. Witnesses reported explosions louder than those that killed Nasrallah, with both Qaani and Hashem Safi-al-Din, the presumed new Hezbollah leader, unaccounted for since then. A Hezbollah official expressed that ongoing Israeli attacks are hindering rescue efforts in the area.

Al-Din had not been officially appointed due to Hezbollah's fear that Israel would target him immediately. He is Nasrallah's nephew and maintains close ties with Iran. If his death is confirmed, Sheikh Naim Qassim, a confidant of Nasrallah, stands the best chance to take over. Until then, Hezbollah, according to a senior official, is being led by a 'joint command'.

The power vacuum does not deter the movement from firing hundreds of rockets towards northern Israel daily. Since October 7, the group has launched over 12,000 projectiles at Israel, according to new Israeli military data. Gaza fired over 13,000 rockets in the past year, while Iran (400), Yemen (180), and Syria also targeted Israel. No figures were released for Iraq, where Shiite militias occasionally launch drones towards Israel.

With escalating tensions in the West Bank, Israel finds itself battling on seven fronts. This aligns with the objective set by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the bloodshed a year ago.