40 dead in stampede at Soleimani funeral

Iran terms US forces ‘terrorists’

A stampede broke out Tuesday at the funeral of a top Iranian general killed in a US drone strike, leaving 40 people dead and many injured as huge crowds packed his hometown. The crush in the southeastern city of Kerman came as Iran prepared to bury Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, a hugely popular figure in the Islamic republic. “Two hundred and thirteen people have been injured and 40 lost their lives because of overcrowding at the funeral procession,” the head of the country’s emergency services, Pirhossein Koolivand, told state TV. AFP correspondents in Kerman said the streets were filled with mourners, while others took refuge on hillsides around the city, where the general was to be laid to rest at the martyrs’ cemetery.

Soleimani, the head of the Guards’ Quds Force foreign operations arm, was assassinated on Friday in a US strike near Baghdad international airport, an operation that shocked Iran. “The enemy killed him unjustly,” the Revolutionary Guards’ top commander, Major General Hossein Salami said, adding the process of “expelling the United States from the region has begun”. “Our will is firm. We also tell our enemies that we will take revenge, and that if they (strike again) we will set fire to what

they love,” he told the sea of black-clad mourners. “They themselves know well what places I am talking about.”

Schoolgirls joined chants of “Death to Trump” from the crowd, an AFP correspondent reported.

Funeral comes after days of processions through the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the shrine cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as the capital Tehran.

The assassination of Soleimani set off an escalating war of words between Iran and the United States.

In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani on Monday warned Trump to “never threaten” Iran, after the US leader issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic. Iran’s parliament passed a bill yesterday designating all US forces “terrorists” over the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a US strike last week.

Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

Under the newly adopted bill, all US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the “martyrdom” of Soleimani were designated as “terrorists”.

“Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act,” parliament said.

Lawmakers also voted to bolster by 200 million euros the coffers of the Quds Force—the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani.

The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a “state sponsor of terrorism” and its forces in the region “terror groups”.

Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said that blackisting came after the US designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a “terrorist organisation”. In Kerman, people converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimani’s closest aide, Brigadier General Hossein Pourjafari.

“We’re here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence,” said one of the mourners who came from the southern city of Shiraz to attend the funeral in Kerman.

“Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world,” Hemmat Dehghan told AFP.

“The security of the whole world, Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran, all owe it to him,” said the 56-year-old war veteran.

Another mourner said Soleimani’s assassination “boils the blood of the Iranian people”. “He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people both then in the war and now. He must certainly be avenged,” said Sara Khaksar, an 18-year-old student.

Friday’s assassination of the 62-year-old Soleimani heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile Middle East.

Iraq’s parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Baghdad requested in a letter to the UN—seen by AFP—that the Security Council condemn the US strike so that “the law of the jungle” is not allowed to prevail.

 

40 dead in stampede at Soleimani funeral

Iran terms US forces terrorists

A stampede broke out Tuesday at the funeral of a top Iranian general killed in a US drone strike, leaving 40 people dead and many injured as huge crowds packed his hometown. The crush in the southeastern city of Kerman came as Iran prepared to bury Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, a hugely popular figure in the Islamic republic. Two hundred and thirteen people have been injured and 40 lost their lives because of overcrowding at the funeral procession, the head of the countrys emergency services, Pirhossein Koolivand, told state TV. AFP correspondents in Kerman said the streets were filled with mourners, while others took refuge on hillsides around the city, where the general was to be laid to rest at the martyrs cemetery. Soleimani, the head of the Guards Quds Force foreign operations arm, was assassinated on Friday in a US strike near Baghdad international airport, an operation that shocked Iran. The enemy killed him unjustly, the Revolutionary Guards top commander, Major General Hossein Salami said, adding the process of expelling the United States from the region has begun. Our will is firm. We also tell our enemies that we will take revenge, and that if they (strike again) we will set fire to what they love, he told the sea of black-clad mourners. They themselves know well what places I am talking about. Schoolgirls joined chants of Death to Trump from the crowd, an AFP correspondent reported. Funeral comes after days of processions through the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the shrine cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as the capital Tehran. The assassination of Soleimani set off an escalating war of words between Iran and the United States. In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani on Monday warned Trump to never threaten Iran, after the US leader issued a US strike list of 52 targets in the Islamic republic. Irans parliament passed a bill yesterday designating all US forces terrorists over the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a US strike last week. Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes. Under the newly adopted bill, all US forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the martyrdom of Soleimani were designated as terrorists. Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act, parliament said. Lawmakers also voted to bolster by 200 million euros the coffers of the Quds Forcethe foreign operations arm of Irans Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani. The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a state sponsor of terrorism and its forces in the region terror groups. Irans top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said that blackisting came after the US designated Irans Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organisation. In Kerman, people converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimanis closest aide, Brigadier General Hossein Pourjafari. Were here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence, said one of the mourners who came from the southern city of Shiraz to attend the funeral in Kerman. Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world, Hemmat Dehghan told AFP. The security of the whole world, Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran, all owe it to him, said the 56-year-old war veteran. Another mourner said Soleimanis assassination boils the blood of the Iranian people. He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people both then in the war and now. He must certainly be avenged, said Sara Khaksar, an 18-year-old student. Fridays assassination of the 62-year-old Soleimani heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile Middle East. Iraqs parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Baghdad requested in a letter to the UNseen by AFPthat the Security Council condemn the US strike so that the law of the jungle is not allowed to prevail.