BEIRUT, LEBANON — A major exodus of Iranian military personnel is underway in the Lebanese capital. According to reports obtained by Axios and local sources, dozens of officers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have fled Beirut over the past 48 hours, fearing targeted strikes as regional tensions reach a boiling point.
The Great Flight: Quds Force Advisors Retreat
Senior Israeli defense officials and sources familiar with the situation indicate that “several dozen” officers, primarily high-ranking members of the elite Quds Force, have departed the country. These individuals have long served as the primary military advisors to Hezbollah, exerting significant influence over the group’s strategic operations and rocket campaigns.
While a “small contingent” of IRGC personnel reportedly remains to maintain a liaison with Hezbollah leadership, officials expect the departures to continue as Israel intensifies its focus on Iranian assets within Lebanon.
An Ultimatum from Jerusalem
The exodus follows a blunt warning issued by the Israeli military on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) threatened to strike any Iranian official or IRGC member found on Lebanese soil as part of its ongoing offensive.
The threat appears to have hit its mark, prompting what some observers are calling a “strategic withdrawal” to prevent the total decapitation of the Quds Force’s regional advisory network.
Lebanon Moves to “Arrest and Repatriate”
Adding to the pressure, the Lebanese government took the unprecedented step on Thursday of banning all IRGC activity within its borders.
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The Directive: Information Minister Paul Morcos announced that authorities have been ordered to “pursue, arrest, and deport” any IRGC personnel found in the country.
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Visa Controls: In a bid to regain national sovereignty, Beirut has also reinstated strict visa requirements for Iranian nationals to prevent the clandestine movement of military personnel.
The cabinet stated these measures are necessary to “prevent any activity that could undermine security or use Lebanese territory to carry out special objectives.”
A Vacuum in the “Axis of Resistance”?
The departure of these veteran advisors comes at a critical time for Hezbollah, which has faced a relentless wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting its infrastructure in the Dahiyeh district and southern Lebanon.
For decades, the IRGC has been the glue holding the “Axis of Resistance” together in Lebanon. With their advisors fleeing and the Lebanese government officially turning against their presence, the IRGC’s influence in the Levant faces its most significant challenge since the 1980s.