At least ninety-five people have been killed and dozens injured in two back-to-back explosions at a memorial service in Iran to mark the fourth death anniversary of Iran’s top General, on Wednesday.
According to reports, more than 95 people were reportedly killed and numerous others injured in an attack during a ceremony in Iran to mark the fourth death anniversary of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force and one of the most powerful men in the Middle East.
Iran’s state television reported the first and then the second explosion 20 minutes later during a crowded fourth anniversary ceremony at Soleimani’s burial cemetery in the Southeastern city of Kerman.
Iran’s Health Minister Bahram Ainulahi confirmed to state TV that 95 people were killed and 211 injured in the deadliest attack and said that many of the wounded were in critical condition and the toll could rise. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed to “avenge the deadly bombings”.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed the attack saying that two suicide bombers identified as Omar Al-Mujahid and Saifullah Al-Mujahid carried out the suicide bombing at the tomb of Qasim Soleimani.
It is believed to have been the deadliest such attack in the history of Iran since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
Soleimani, once Iran’s top military general, was killed in a drone strike on the morning of January 3, 2020, while traveling in a convoy of two vehicles near Baghdad’s international airport.