IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi appeared publicly for the second time in 24 hours at the funeral of the late Supreme Leader, according to Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). Vahidi had been underground since February's Operation Roaring Lion until his initial emergence on Thursday.
IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi attended the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, marking his second public appearance in 24 hours, according to Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). Vahidi had been underground since February's Operation Roaring Lion until he emerged on Thursday for a high-level meeting on funeral preparations. Friday's funeral procession included figures described as 'casket bearers' (מלטפי הארון) — a term for the inner circle handling the leader's burial — among whom Vahidi was identified, as reported by Abu Ali Express.
Vahidi's return to public view signals a visible role for the IRGC chief during the regime's leadership transition. The Thursday emergence was the first time he had been seen since before the joint US-Israeli operation that reshaped Iran's military posture in February. The funeral, which began Friday morning, is expected to draw large crowds in Tehran.
The IRGC commander's reappearance comes amid a period of relative calm but continued military alertness, with US strategic bombers recently departing a UK base and ongoing regional tensions.
10 developments
- StrongIRGC Commander Leaves Bunker for Senior Meeting Ahead of Khamenei Funeral, First Time Since Operation Roaring Lion
- StrongIRGC chief of staff says Khamenei burial site being prepared at Khomeini mausoleum
- StrongJoint funeral reported for Khamenei and his daughter-in-law, who died in strike that killed him
- DevelopingIranian regime publishes official funeral schedule for Khamenei, burial set for July 9
Source and signal
- Internal intake