Anniversary of the death of General Soleimani - At least 50 dead in explosions in Iran
On the anniversary of the death of the powerful Iranian general Ghassem Soleimani, at least 50 people were killed in an explosion in his home town of Kerman. After initial reports of more than 20 deaths, the death toll has now risen to 53, according to state media. As the state news agency Irna reported on Wednesday, more than 70 people were also injured.
Explosions in Iran at memorial service for General Soleimani
The two explosions shook the southern city of Kerman, where the tomb is located in a mosque, a few minutes apart, according to television reports. A crowd of people was caught up in the explosions. According to the semi-state news agency Nournews, "several gas canisters exploded on the road to the cemetery". A local official was quoted in the media as saying that these were "terrorist attacks".
On Wednesday, Iran commemorated the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death, who was killed by the US military in Iraq on January 3, 2020. Soleimani was killed in a drone strike near Baghdad ordered by then US President Donald Trump. The general commanded the Al-Quds Brigades, the branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards responsible for foreign missions, and was considered a hero of the Iran-Iraq war in his home country. Trump said at the time that he had ordered the drone strike in response to a series of attacks on US bases in Iraq.
Editor's note: This article will be updated on an ongoing basis.
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In honor of General Soleimani's fourth anniversary of his death, which occurred due to a US drone strike in Iraq, the city of Kerman, his hometown in Iran, was rocked by two explosions at a memorial service. Officials have labeled these incidents as 'terrorist attacks.'
Despite being widely known for his role in the Iran-Iraq war and commanding the Al-Quds Brigades, a foreign missions branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, General Soleimani's legacy continues to resonate strongly in Kerman, Iran.
Source: www.stern.de
