The Shadow Commander

TL;DR

Suleimani Profile: Dexter Filkins profiles Qassem Suleimani as head of Iran's Quds Force, reshaping the Middle East through proxies and operations.
CIA Assessment: A former CIA officer called Suleimani the single most powerful operative in the Middle East, despite his obscurity.[[1]](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/30/the-shadow-commander)
Regional Power Broker: His network directed attacks killing hundreds of Americans in Iraq and supported Assad in Syria via Hezbollah and militias.

The story at a glance

Dexter Filkins's profile examines Qassem Suleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force since 1998, who built influence across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and beyond through militant proxies like Hezbollah. Key figures include Suleimani, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and allies such as Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah; U.S. officials like former CIA officer John Maguire highlight his unmatched reach. The piece emerged amid Syria's civil war, where Suleimani orchestrated aid to Bashar al-Assad. It draws from interviews with Middle Eastern officials and Western analysts.

Key points

Suleimani, born in 1957 near Kerman, rose through the Revolutionary Guards during the Iran-Iraq War, gaining Khamenei's trust.
Quds Force acts as hybrid CIA and special forces, handling Iran's external operations, assassinations, arming allies, and proxy militias.
In Iraq post-2003, his network armed Shiite groups with explosively formed penetrators (EFPs), killing hundreds of U.S. troops.
He messaged General David Petraeus claiming control over Iran's policy in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Afghanistan.
In Syria, Suleimani rallied Hezbollah fighters, Iraqi Shiite militias, and Iranian funds to bolster Assad against rebels.
U.S. Treasury sanctioned him for terrorism support and Assad aid; he stayed shadowy, directing from afar.
Iranian officials and allies view him as a hero; a film director called himself "the earth beneath Soleimani’s feet."

Details and context

Suleimani's power stems from direct access to Khamenei, allowing him to bypass foreign ministry channels for operations in Arab states. The Quds Force trains and funds groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, where it helped sustain the militia, and Iraqi Shiite factions that filled power vacuums after Saddam Hussein's fall.[[1]](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/30/the-shadow-commander)

In Syria by 2013, facing rebel gains, Suleimani deployed assets built over years: Hezbollah poured in fighters, Iraqi militias joined, and he squeezed resources from Assad's government. This mirrored his Iraq playbook, blending advice, specialists, and deniability to avoid full Iranian commitment.[[1]](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/30/the-shadow-commander)

His approach exploits sectarian ties, turning Shiite communities into loyal networks while keeping Iranian casualties low. Past U.S. invasions inadvertently aided him by removing Sunni rivals like Saddam, enabling Shiite dominance.

Key quotes

“Suleimani is the single most powerful operative in the Middle East today, and no one’s ever heard of him.” — John Maguire, former CIA officer in Iraq.[[1]](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/30/the-shadow-commander)

“Dear General Petraeus: You should be aware that I, Qassem Soleimani, control Iran’s policy for Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Afghanistan.” — Message attributed to Suleimani.[[2]](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/qassem-soleimani-irans-unique-regional-strategy)

Why it matters

Suleimani's rise showed how Iran could project power asymmetrically, fueling proxy conflicts that deepened Sunni-Shiite divides across the Middle East. For U.S. policymakers and troops, it meant persistent threats from deniable militias in Iraq and Syria, complicating withdrawals and alliances. Watch for successors like Esmail Qaani attempting similar networks, though none match his charisma or ties, amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.