Iran Mourns Over 100 Killed in Explosions During Soleimani Commemoration
Iran faced a devastating tragedy as two explosions occurred minutes apart during a commemoration event for Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a prominent general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The blasts in Kerman, a city southeast of Tehran, resulted in at least 103 fatalities and injured over 141 individuals, heightening tensions in a region already on edge due to Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Responsibility for the attack, which Iranian state media labeled as "terroristic," remains unclaimed. While Israel has a history of targeted assassinations in Iran, primarily related to its nuclear program, it has not engaged in mass-casualty bombings. Past large-scale attacks in Iran, particularly targeting civilians, have often been attributed to Sunni extremist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS), though Kerman has traditionally been a peaceful region.
Iran's recent history includes significant protests, including those sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, and has been a target for attacks from various exile groups since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The explosions disrupted the fourth-anniversary event of Gen. Soleimani's death, occurring near his gravesite in Kerman. Soleimani, who led the Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force, played a key role in Iran's regional military activities and was seen as a national icon by supporters of the regime. His 2020 death in Iraq led to mass gatherings, highlighting his influence and status within Iran.
Authorities reported that some of the injuries resulted from the crowd fleeing the scene, and the second explosion seemed strategically delayed, a tactic commonly used by militants to target first responders and maximize casualties.
The U.S. State Department, through spokesman Matthew Miller, clarified that the United States played no role in these events, dismissing any such suggestions as "ridiculous." Additionally, the department found no evidence implicating Israel. A senior U.S. administration official suggested that the nature of the attack resembled those previously conducted by ISIS.
Soleimani's death has been a pivotal moment in recent Middle Eastern history. Unknown in Iran until the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, he rose to prominence, at times overshadowing civilian leadership. His death marked an escalation of hostilities following America's withdrawal from Tehran's nuclear deal in 2018.
The funeral for Soleimani in 2020 also witnessed a stampede in Kerman, resulting in over 50 deaths. The city, typically tranquil amidst Iran's ongoing unrest and attacks, is situated in the central desert plateau of the country. The recent explosions have brought renewed attention to the volatile and complex political landscape of the region.