entity

Qasem Soleimani

Also known as: General Qassem Suleimani, Qassem Suleimani, late Qasem Soleimani, Qassem Soleimani

Entities (4)

IRGC-QF

IRGC-QF

Qasem Soleimani served as the commander and leader of the IRGC-QF, as evidenced by his role in directing the organization's regional strategy and operations [1], [2], [3], and [4]. His death in 2020 is a central event linked to the IRGC-QF's history and subsequent leadership transition [5], [6], and [7]. — 8 supporting facts

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United States

United States

The United States is directly related to Qasem Soleimani as the state actor responsible for his targeted killing in 2020, as detailed in [1], [2], [3], and [4]. — 3 supporting facts

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump

Donald Trump ordered the drone strike that resulted in the death of Qasem Soleimani [1], which subsequently led the Iranian government to target Donald Trump for assassination in retaliation [2], [3]. — 3 supporting facts

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Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Qasem Soleimani was a high-ranking commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, specifically serving as the head of its Quds Force, as established in [1], [2], and [3]. — 2 supporting facts

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Facts (23)

Sources

We Bombed the Wrong Target Iran's Proxy Network Strategy irregularwarfare.org Irregular Warfare Initiative Mar 10, 2026 3 facts

claimThe Combating Terrorism Center at West Point asserts that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) maintains directorates across Asia, the Levant, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and its operational efficacy is not dependent on any single individual, including the late Qasem Soleimani.

accountFollowing the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) did not dissolve but adapted, with Esmail Qaani promoted to leadership within hours.

claimThe New Lines Institute documented that while the death of Qasem Soleimani created a short-term vacuum that hampered the Iranian regime's management of its proxy network, the broader institution continued to operate.

War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East - CSIS csis.org CSIS Mar 11, 2019 3 facts

claimQassem Soleimani, as leader of the IRGC-QF, utilized opportunities during regional instability to provide money, weapons, and other assistance to partners in the absence of significant balancing by the United States and other countries.

claimThe IRGC-QF and its leader, Qassem Soleimani, provided money, weapons, and other assistance to partners in the region by taking advantage of the absence of significant balancing by the United States and other countries.

referenceAli Soufan authored an article titled 'Qassem Soleimani and Iran’s Unique Regional Strategy' which examines the regional strategy of the IRGC-QF commander.

Iran's Proxy Strategy and the Extent of Surrogate Autonomy - AHS alexanderhamiltonsociety.org Alexander Hamilton Society 3 facts

claimThe deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis have sizably hindered Iranian operations in Iraq.

claimMajor General Esmail Ghaani is less familiar with Iraqi organizations and lacks the personal relationships with Iraqi leadership that his predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, possessed.

claimMajor General Esmail Ghaani replaced Qasem Soleimani as the Iranian commander responsible for working with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq.

The Limits of Iran's Proxy Empire | The New Yorker newyorker.com The New Yorker Mar 12, 2026 3 facts

accountIn 2020, an American drone strike assassinated General Qassem Suleimani, who was responsible for overseeing support for Iran's proxies and was considered the second most powerful leader in the Iranian theocracy after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

accountGeneral Qassem Suleimani, who oversaw support for Iran's proxies and was considered the second most powerful leader in the theocracy after Khamenei, was assassinated in an American drone strike in 2020.

Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org Amr Hamzawy · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Mar 5, 2025 2 facts

accountThe United States assassinated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

accountIranian-supported groups conducted attacks on United States bases in Iraq and Syria, which contributed to regional escalations including the 2020 United States assassination of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani and prolonged hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the Iran war atlanticcouncil.org Atlantic Council Mar 11, 2026 2 facts

accountIn retaliation for the 2020 death of IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian government sought to murder former US President Donald Trump and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Iran's 'Axis of Resistance': The proxy forces shaping Mideast conflicts latimes.com Los Angeles Times Mar 1, 2026 2 facts

claimQassem Suleimani was a central figure in the formation of Iran’s proxy constellation and assisted Iranian-linked militias that targeted U.S. troops and bases in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops, according to the Pentagon.

accountIn January 2020, Donald Trump ordered a drone strike near the Baghdad airport that killed Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Iranian Quds Force, and several high-ranking militia commanders.

The path forward on Iran and its proxy forces - Brookings Institution brookings.edu Brookings Mar 1, 2024 1 fact

claimThe January 2020 U.S. assassination of Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani and a key Shiite militia leader in Iraq had relatively limited long-term impact on the strength, durability, or efficacy of Iran's 'axis of resistance'.

What Is the Iran Nuclear Deal? | Council on Foreign Relations cfr.org Council on Foreign Relations 1 fact

accountIran announced it would no longer limit its uranium enrichment in January 2020 following the United States' targeted killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Iran in crisis: the landscape after the Twelve-Day War - OSW osw.waw.pl OSW Dec 18, 2025 1 fact

accountThe expansion of Iran's regional influence was halted in 2020 when US forces killed General Qasem Soleimani, who was widely considered the architect and driving force behind Iran's Middle Eastern strategy.

proxy warfare recalibrated: iran's decentralized proxy strategy in the ... academia.edu Academia.edu 1 fact

claimJ. Rajabi asserts that Esmail Qaani has faced growing leadership struggles in the post-Qasem Soleimani era.

United States and Iran on the Brink: What's at Stake? - CSIS csis.org CSIS 1 fact

claimJoseph Farsakh asserts that Iran has refrained from closing the Strait of Hormuz following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, Israeli strikes, and U.S. strikes because doing so would devastate Iran's own economy.