(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – Nearly 100 people were killed on Wednesday, January 3rd, in a deadly attack targeting mourners commemorating former Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran. Local authorities and White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed the toll.
Two bombs detonated as thousands of Iranians gathered at Soleimani’s gravesite to mark the fourth anniversary of his death. The initial blast ripped through the crowd near the cemetery, followed by another explosion about a kilometer away 15 minutes later, a tactic strongly suggesting a coordinated attack by militant groups.
The bombs were allegedly hidden in suitcases and detonated remotely. A local official stated that it was a deliberate attack caused by explosions of multiple gas canisters planted on the road leading to the cemetery.
Kirby commented, “Based on the method of operation, this strongly suggests a terrorist attack, similar to those we’ve seen from ISIS in the past.”
The death toll initially reached 103 before officials revised it down to 95, possibly due to clerical errors or double-counting. Many of the at least 211 wounded remain in critical condition, raising fears the death toll could climb further.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran’s head of judiciary, vowed to identify and punish the perpetrators. “All relevant intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to swiftly investigate and apprehend the culprits, delivering them to the judiciary,” he stated.
Initially, no group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Iran has numerous potential adversaries, including exile groups, militant organizations, and state actors. On Thursday, January 4, the Islamic State (ISIS) alleged they were responsible for the atrocity.
Soleimani was revered by Iran’s hardline supporters but posed a threat to American interests by aiding militant groups and playing a key role in securing Syrian President Bashar Assad’s victory in the civil war.
In 2020, President Donald Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Soleimani. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper justified the preemptive action, stating, “If we receive information about potential attacks, we will take preemptive action to protect American forces and lives. The rules have changed.”
Soleimani’s death led to strong opposition and extensive protests against the United States. At his 2020 funeral, a stampede occurred, causing at least 56 deaths and over 200 injuries.
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