Iran names new commander for global assassination unit

Iran's overseas terror apparatus has undergone a major structural shift. Esmail Qaani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Qods Force, has led a series of internal changes to the unit responsible for assassinations and attacks beyond Iran's borders, according to the opposition outlet Iran International.

The operational arm has been renamed from "Unit 840" to "Unit 600" and reorganised. The decision to rebrand and restructure came after its organisational structure and the identities of some of its operatives were exposed in recent years.

Qaani has appointed Mojtaba Haq-Lassan, 64, to head the unit in its new form. Haq-Lassan previously served as head of its internal intelligence division. The appointment comes after a long period in which the unit operated without formal leadership, following the killing of its previous commander, Hajj Asgar Bakri, in a strike attributed to Israel on 6 April.

Western intelligence agencies know this apparatus well as the coordinator of assassination attempts and attacks on Israeli targets worldwide, alongside plots against opposition figures, journalists and former senior American officials.

In June, 22 countries united against "lethal activity" led by Tehran's security arms. The international coalition pointed to a wave of attacks across Europe claimed by the pro-Iranian group "Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah". The escalation has alarmed Western intelligence bodies, as these attempts include not only murder but also kidnappings, harassment and threats.

Qaani, who has commanded the Quds Force since Qassem Soleimani's killing in January 2020, has been absent from the public arena for long stretches since the war began. In June he appeared in a rare television interview, where he addressed Israel and the United States with a sharp warning: "Do not enter into confrontation with the resistance front; it stands against the enemy even in difficult times."

Later in the same interview, Qaani referred to the strike in Dahieh, Beirut, and the American response. "The Americans saw that Iran, from senior politicians to military commanders, is preparing to respond," he said. According to him, the American response reflects weakness, not strength.

The Quds Force has for years served as the logistical, financial and military lifeline for Iran-aligned terror organisations across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria.