IRGC Commander Disguised in Women's Clothing Out of Fear of Assassinations

Social media users are circulating a photo of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Ismail Qaani disguised in women's clothing out of fear of American drone strikes. The image started circulating after U.S. forces announced the killing of leaders from the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, Abu Baqar al-Saidi and Arkan al-Olyawi, by rockets east of Baghdad. However, the circulating image is fake, according to Iranian sources. The official website of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) published the photo on Sunday, February 11, 2024, showing Qaani participating in the "22 Bahman" rally, which commemorates the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. It was revealed that the original photo depicts Ismail Qaani wearing a black outfit, a head cap, and sunglasses, without the women's clothing that was digitally added to the image.