In the vicinity of Iran's late General Qassem Soleimani's gravesite, two explosions shook the surroundings, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 103 lives and leaving over 170 individuals injured. Described as "terrorist" incidents by both the official IRNA news agency and the semi-official Fars news agency, these blasts disrupted the gathering at the cemetery in Kerman, southeastern Iran, commemorating the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's passing due to a U.S. drone strike, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
According to IRNA, the initial explosion occurred approximately 700 meters away from Soleimani's mausoleum, followed by a second blast a kilometer distant. Rahman Jalali, Kerman province's deputy governor for political and security affairs, attributed these explosions to "terrorists," as stated in the IRNA report.
The aftermath revealed the severity of the situation, with Babak Yektaparast from Iran's National Medical Emergency Organization informing IRINN that several injured individuals were in critical condition. Tragically, there is a possibility that the death toll may escalate.
IRINN conveyed ongoing uncertainty regarding the cause of the explosions, indicating that rescue teams were actively engaged at the site. The report highlighted that the majority of injuries were a result of overcrowding and ensuing panic.
The assassination of Soleimani, a prominent figure within Iran's military ranks, occurred on January 3, 2020, near Baghdad's international airport through a drone strike authorized by former President Donald Trump. Following a monumental funeral that attracted millions of mourners across Iran, Soleimani was laid to rest in his hometown of Kerman. Iran vehemently condemned the assassination, labeling it as "state terrorism," and pledged retaliation.
(With Agency Inputs)
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