Two explosions tore through a crowd of terrorist supporters gathered at the memorial for the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Qasem Solimani. Iranian state media reported that over 100 people died and 140 others were injured.
You may recall that Soleimani and his entourage were killed in a US drone attack as they left the Baghdad Airport. President Trump ordered the attack and surprised the Pentagon and State Department as least as much as it did Soleimani, perhaps more because Defense and State had time to reflect upon the events.
This was a major blow to the elite, secretive Quds Force that provided training, weapons, and cash to Iranian proxy groups, from its Middle East center to as far as Latin America.
The gathering began innocently, as people gathered at the Kernan Martyrs Cemetery near the southern Iranian town of Kernan to celebrate the Cuisinarting of one the world’s most prolific terrorists. The obligatory walk on the flags of the “Great Satan” was also performed.
General Abdul Amir Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi army walks on the American flag during today’s ceremony on the anniversary of the killing of terrorists Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, by US strike on 3 January 2020!
Yarallah a hardcore IRGC operative who… pic.twitter.com/nh9g658Zxq— Entifadh Qanbar 🇮🇶🇺🇸 انتفاض قنبر (@eqanbar) January 3, 2024
Two bombs exploded about half a mile from the grave, causing a blast to the participants.
🚨 First scenes from #Iran 🇮🇷 following mysterious explosions near Qassem Soleimani’s grave, on the occasion of the anniversary of his assassinationpic.twitter.com/FKvh24shGb
— Zechariah Shar’abi | זכריה | زكريا (@ZechariahSharab) January 3, 2024
Terror attack in Iran while people were paying their respects to General Soleimani.
73 innocent Iranians were killed and 170 injured.
Can’t help but think Israel is behind this in the most cowardly disgusting attempt of escalation. pic.twitter.com/9SqW6wD64U
— nuno marques (@numarqs) January 3, 2024
US/Israeli backed terrorists murdered at least 20 people participating in ceremonies today commemorating the 4th anniversary of General Soleimani’s martyrdom at the hands of the US regime. The Iranian general led the fight against NATO backed ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates. pic.twitter.com/UVPVWAd4cb
— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) January 3, 2024
The big question is what happens next. There is a race to find the scapegoat between the US and Israel. Joe Biden’s reluctance to respond to direct attacks against US military installations makes me doubt that sane individuals would approve a bombing of this magnitude. Israel was certainly capable of carrying out this low-tech/no-tech operation, which involved two bags with explosives placed along the march route. Israel retrieved from Tehran a half-ton of highly classified documents documenting Iran’s nuke weapons program. Israel also killed a leading nuclear scientist during an escorted vehicle convoy. It would be like child’s play. Even though Israel will be eventually blamed, this doesn’t fit their mode of operation. Israel did not kill anyone else in the attack yesterday on a terrorist protected by Iran.
Most likely suspects include anti-regime protestors who have been demonstrating for five years now against the Islamist terrorist rule in Tehran.
The Iranian government is unlikely to want to promote this narrative.
