Iran is set to host what authorities have called a "historic" funeral procession in Tehran on Saturday to commemorate 60 people killed during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel. The victims are top military commanders and prominent nuclear scientists.
The rituals will start at 8:00 A.M. local time in Enghelab (Revolution) Square in downtown Tehran. Following first-order tributes, a mass public procession will head in the direction of Azadi Square, approximately 11 kilometers away, where further memorial rituals will be performed.
One of the most high-profile individuals to be honored is General Mohammad Bagheri, a top commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and widely seen as second only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran's military hierarchy. Iranian news reports say Bagheri will be buried alongside his wife and daughter.
Also among the dead is nuclear physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who will be buried with his wife. The ceremony will also honor four women and four children, symbolizing the wider civilian toll of the war.
Violence broke out on June 13 when Israel mounted a series of targeted attacks, stating the actions were to disrupt Iran's supposed nuclear arms program. The attacks were on prominent Iranian personnel and assets.
The raid was said to have killed more than 30 high-ranking Revolutionary Guard officials, including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and Aerospace Forces commander Amirali Hajizadeh.
As reported by Iran's Ministry of Health, the total number of casualties is 627 fatalities and approximately 4,900 injured.
The size of Saturday's funeral is predicted to be historic, with huge crowds expected to come in mourning. Iranian state media have described it as one of the largest public memorials in recent history.
Ahead of the funeral, officials have beefed up security throughout Tehran. Iran's senior political, military, and religious leaders will reportedly be attending, as well as thousands of ordinary civilians paying their respects.
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