Overview
Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodai was a senior commander of Iran’s Quds Force, the external wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) responsible for liaising with Iran’s global proxies. Khodai was reportedly involved in planning attacks against Israeli targets across the world. On May 22, 2022, Khodai was shot dead by gunmen outside of his home in Tehran.Anshel Pfeffer, “Iranian colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari shot dead by hit squad in Tehran,” The Times, May 23, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-colonel-hassan-sayad-khodayari-shot-dead-by-hit-squad-in-tehran-8v7g3q2t9.
Khodai was a close aide to the late General Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force who was killed by an American airstrike in Baghdad in January 2020. Khodai had reportedly served as a commander of the Quds Force for over a decade, undertaking a variety of roles that included directing attacks and recruiting civilians in other countries to carry out attacks, particularly against Israelis.“Assassinated IRGC officer led terror attacks on Israelis in India, Thailand – report,” Jerusalem Post, May 24, 2022, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-707492; Anshel Pfeffer, “Iranian colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari shot dead by hit squad in Tehran,” The Times, May 23, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-colonel-hassan-sayad-khodayari-shot-dead-by-hit-squad-in-tehran-8v7g3q2t9.
During his tenure in the Quds Force, media sources reported that Khodai was involved in planning attacks against Israeli targets in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.Anshel Pfeffer, “Iranian colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari shot dead by hit squad in Tehran,” The Times, May 23, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-colonel-hassan-sayad-khodayari-shot-dead-by-hit-squad-in-tehran-8v7g3q2t9. According to the Jerusalem Post, Khodai directed the February 2012 Bangkok bombings that injured five civilians. The bombings—in which three Iranian men set off homemade explosives—intended to target Israeli diplomats.“Assassinated IRGC officer led terror attacks on Israelis in India, Thailand – report,” Jerusalem Post, May 24, 2022, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-707492; Kate Hodal, “Bangkok bombers planned to attack Israeli diplomats, say Thai police,” Guardian, February 16, 2012, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/16/bangkok-bombers-plotting-attack-israeli-diplomats. Additionally, Khodai was allegedly linked to plans targeting an Israeli diplomat in Istanbul, an American general in Germany, and a French journalist. Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, uncovered the plots and intervened before the murders were carried out.Anshel Pfeffer, “Iranian colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari shot dead by hit squad in Tehran,” The Times, May 23, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-colonel-hassan-sayad-khodayari-shot-dead-by-hit-squad-in-tehran-8v7g3q2t9.
On May 22, 2022, Khodai was shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles outside of his home in Tehran, Iran. Given the similarities of the shooting to another incident targeting Iranian nuclear scientists in November 2020, media sources suspect that Mossad agents carried out the killing.Anshel Pfeffer, “Iranian colonel Hassan Sayad Khodayari shot dead by hit squad in Tehran,” The Times, May 23, 2022, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-colonel-hassan-sayad-khodayari-shot-dead-by-hit-squad-in-tehran-8v7g3q2t9.
Immediately after the shooting, Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, announced Khodai’s death, describing him as a “defender of the sanctuary.” According to media sources, “defender of the sanctuary” is often used to describe those who work for Iran in Syria or Iraq, countries where Iran has sent thousands of fighters to fight against ISIS as well as oversee foreign operations. Khodai reportedly served in Syria over the past few years.“Iran: Revolutionary Guard officer assassinated in Tehran,” Al Jazeera, May 22, 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/22/iran-irgc-quds-force-member-assassinated-in-tehran-state-media.
The day after Khodai’s death, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi announced that Iran will avenge the killing and that “the blood of this great martyr will be avenged.”“Iran: Revolutionary Guard officer assassinated in Tehran,” Al Jazeera, May 22, 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/22/iran-irgc-quds-force-member-assassinated-in-tehran-state-media.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Military, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, Khomeinist, Shiite, state actor
- Position(s):
- Colonel
The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats. The IRGC uses secret police methods against its opponents within Iran, and terrorist tactics against its enemies abroad.
History
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.