A terrorist strike in Iran killed over 95 Iranians and injured others during a ceremony honouring a respected commander, worsening the Middle East situation.
Israel or the Islamic State, Suleimani’s main regional opponents, may have demolished a memorial service celebrating his fourth death anniversary as commander of Iran’s al-Quds force.
adamant No one, including Iran’s new interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, claimed responsibility for the deadliest terrorist strike since 1979. The US State Department denied Israeli involvement.
Iran’s health minister, Bahram Einollahi, warned that the death toll could rise despite the initial estimate of 103 being dropped. Many injured people remained in serious condition.
Attacks from the Middle East have never been more dangerous. Hamas claims a drone assault in Beirut killed its deputy commander on Tuesday. Israel and Hamas are currently at war in Gaza. The capital of Lebanon was hit with a few deaths in a densely populated area.
Israel is a master at targeting and killing Iranian scientists and soldiers. It admits that its operating standards changed after the October 7 Hamas deaths, for which Israel is responsible.
According to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, “The enemies of the nation should know that such actions can never cause a disturbance in the iron determination of the Iranian nation to defend Islamic ideals.”
According to him, the attacks have pushed Iran “to dry up the roots of terror and violence.” Iran will prefer to deal with proxies than face Israel.
Officials said two remotely detonated bombs caused the explosions.
In central Iran’s south, Kerman witnesses reported two explosions 15 minutes apart. The bombs damaged massive crowds in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq and paid tribute to Suleimani, the Middle East’s former strongest man.
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Irna said the first explosion occurred 700 metres from Suleimani’s grave and the second 300 metres.
The afternoon death toll jumped from 73 to 75, according to Iranian emergency service spokesman Babak Yektaparast. Thursday is mourning day.
Explosions hit Golzar Shohada’s Garden of Martyrs cemetery and Keman’s street. The cemetery holds 1,024 martyrs of the “axis of resistance” against the US and West. Kerman and nearby hospitals were notified of the need to treat the victims.
Mojtaba Zolnouri, deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, said: “The Kerman terrorist attack was not a suicide, proving its Zionism. Retaliation against Zionist oppressors would affect worldwide activities.
During COVID-19, former Iran Health Ministry spokesperson Kianush Jahanpur tweeted, “The answer to this crime should only be in Tel Aviv, Haifa.”
Putin was among several international leaders who gave no explanation or sympathies.
A September Fars report said a prominent Islamic State “operative” in charge of “terrorist operations” in Iran was arrested in Kerman. Five IS militants attacked the Iranian parliament and Ruhollah Khomeini’s shrine in 2017, injuring 43 and killing 17. Tehran says it has stopped IS attacks on Iranians in public.
Exile groups, nationalist organisations, and state agencies may have participated. Iran dissolved a Mossad-funded NGO.
After a top Revolutionary Guard commander was killed in Syria on December 25, Israel warned it would “certainly pay” for its activities in Tehran.
Iranian media reported that al-Quds top adviser Razi Mousavi was slain near Damascus. Border warfare between Israel and Lebanon continues.
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Iran may have ignored US and UK instructions to stop supporting the Houthi forces in Yemen’s Red Sea commercial ship incursions. Wednesday saw the Houthis launch two additional missiles at merchant ships near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The US first attacked Houthi missile launchers in Yemen after promising to do so.
Houthi attacks won’t stop until Israel sends more supplies to Gaza. Major shipping lines like Maersk had to temporarily suspend Red Sea operations owing to personnel and cargo dangers. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed Yemen on Tuesday.
Trump ordered a drone strike to kill Iran’s proxy soldier commander in Syria and Iraq, Suleimani, near Baghdad in 2020. In addition to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the Revolutionary Guards, particularly his Shia battalions, committed to fighting IS.
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