What was behind Qasem Soleimani’s visit to Lebanon?
Lebanese media reported that the commander of the Iranian Quds forces, Qasem Soleimani, met with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, perhaps prompting the latter's changing the unwritten, retaliatory "rules of engagement" with Israel.
Two events marked the Lebanese political scene during the last days of January 2015. The repercussions of these events are expected to extend over more than a month. The first event, leaked through the media, was the visit to Beirut on Jan. 29 by Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a shadowy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force — as described by some in the West.
The second was the content of the speech delivered the next day after the visit by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, in particular regarding the party's stance on Israel and the new and developing confrontation.
Several points must be examined as expressive indicators and signs necessary for interpreting Soleimani’s visit.
First, this figure has a prominent role in the Iranian decision-making process, especially within the scope of Iran’s action plan on the field. Soleimani is present wherever there are confrontations in which Iran is directly involved. The man is omnipresent in Iraq, Syria, even in Yemen. He plays a consultancy, training or a field-related role on a case-by-case basis and according to the location and circumstances. Today, it appears that the case, location and circumstances of Beirut forced Soleimani to pay it a visit.
