FACT CHECK: No, Iranian General Didn’t Flee To Israel

A post shared on Facebook claims an Iranian general fled to Israel.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence for this claim.

Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming that Iranian Gen. Esmail Qaani was seen in Israel.

“Breaking: Iran’s IRGC Quds Force commander Gen. Esmail Qaani is confirmed safe in Israel It can now be revealed that he was an Israeli asset, providing intelligence that led to elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Hezbollah leaders Nasrallah and Safieddine,” reads one user’s post. 

This claim is false. No media outlets have reported that Qaani has defected to Israel. The Israel Defense Forces nor any Israeli government entity has confirmed that Qaani provided intelligence. (RELATED: No, Harvard Study Did Not Confirm Fluoride Lowers Children’s IQ)

Misbar also debunked this claim. The outlet reported that while Qaani was under investigation in connection to Nasrallah’s death, he was seen at “rallies commemorating the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution” in February 2025.