At least 35 dead in a stampede during General Soleimani’s funeral in Iran

Several penitents have died in a stampede during the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman in Iran

Several penitents have died in a stampede during the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman (southeast Iran), as reported by Iranian state television. Thousands of Iranians have attended the funeral party of Soleimani, one of the most powerful men in the Iran regime and killed in a ‘selective attack’ in the United States near the Baghdad airport (Iraq).

Medical emergency services in the area have said that there are “dead and injured” resulting from the stampede, in statements to local television.

Soleimani’s body will be buried this Tuesday in Kerman in front of thousands of people, after different ceremonies in commemoration of his figure throughout the country.

Processions in Tehran

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in the events in Tehran for the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani, ceremonies that have been led by the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Jamanei. During the events, Jamenei has cried several times, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Khamenei has again warned that there will be a “hard revenge” against those responsible for the death of Soleimani and added that “the path of resistance will remain vigorous.”

In Tehran, Soleimani’s body was transferred in procession to hundreds of thousands of people. The Iranian television network Press TV has estimated the number of people present in millions. Those present in the procession have carried photographs of Soleimani, as well as flags of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Soleimani’s daughter, Zeinab, has addressed those present and stressed that “the name of Qasem Soleimani now shakes the nest of Zionism, Takfirism and the hegemonic order.”

“The United States and Zionism must know that my father’s martyrdom has awakened more human instincts in the face of resistance. He will turn his life into a nightmare and destroy his spider nests,” she added.

US Justification

Soleimani died along with ‘number two’ of the Popular Mobilization Forces (FMP), Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, and several Iraqi militiamen and Iranian military in the US- executed bombing at the airport in the capital of Iraq, Baghdad.

Washington argued that it carried out the attack “to protect US personnel abroad”, following protests against its embassy in Baghdad in protest against another bombing in which 25 members of the FMP died.

Bombings against the FMP were executed in response to the death of an American contractor in a projectile attack against a military base located near Kirkuk.

The Iraqi Government has condemned these attacks by the United States and recalled that the FMP is a fundamental element in the fight against the jihadist group Islamic State.

In this regard, he has denounced that the bombings were carried out unilaterally and violating the agreements reached with the international coalition that Washington is leading in the fight against jihadists.

Therefore, the Iraqi Parliament approved on Sunday a motion that requires the expulsion of US troops from the country and obliges the Government to commit to making public any agreement reached in the future for the presence of foreign military advisers and trainers.