At least 103 dead in Iran in explosions at General Soleimani’s grave Beirut explosion – at least one car in flames

On the anniversary of the death of powerful Iranian general Ghassem Soleimani, at least 103 people were killed in two explosions in his hometown of Kerman. Earlier there was talk of more than seventy deaths.

About 140 other people were injured, state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday, citing emergency services in the city of Kerman. Their reporters spoke of a “horrific sound of an explosion.” There were also reports from Iranian media of a second explosion. The deputy governor of Kerman spoke of a terrorist attack, state broadcaster IRIB reports.

Kerman, in the center of the country, is home to Ghassem Soleimani, the former commander of the foreign units of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The US killed him on January 3, 2020 in a drone strike in Iraq, ordered by Donald Trump. Soleimani is venerated as a martyr by government supporters loyal to the system.

Also on Wednesday, crowds of people made a pilgrimage through the streets of Kerman to Soleimani’s grave. In a segment broadcast live on state television, bangs and screams could be heard. A reporter’s live broadcast showed rescue workers rushing to a hospital with injured people in the background. The exact reason for the explosion was initially unclear.

Who was Ghassem Soleimani?

Ghassem Soleimani was born in southern Iran in 1957 and was against the monarchy and the shah from an early age, SRF writes. After the revolution, he joined the Revolutionary Guards and fought against Saddam Hussein’s regime in the 1980s. As commander of the Al-Kuds Brigades – an elite unit regarded abroad as Iran’s military unit and classified as a terrorist by the West – Soleimani was considered a top strategist against the terrorist militia ‘Islamic State’ (IS). ).

Even before his death, Soleimani was seen as a hero in Iran. Iran’s “Supreme Leader” and religious and political leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had described him as a “living martyr of the revolution.” Soleimani, who worked closely with Khamenei, was considered one of Iran’s most powerful figures.

Soleimani’s influence extended beyond his military role as head of the Quds Force. He played a crucial role in expanding Iran’s sphere of influence in the Middle East, as CNN writes.

(hah/rbu/sda/dpa)

Update to follow…