DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A deadly explosion rocked the city of Kerman, Iran on Wednesday during a commemoration for a prominent Iranian general who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. The attack claimed the lives of at least 103 people and injured 211 others, marking one of the deadliest militant attacks in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The explosions occurred near the grave site of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, as people gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of his death.
No details on who may be responsible for the attack have been released, leaving Iranian officials to grapple with multiple possible assailants including exile groups, militant organizations, and state actors. The situation is further complicated by ongoing conflicts and tensions in the region, including Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The bombings in Kerman are particularly unusual due to the city’s relatively peaceful history, only seeing limited unrest in the past despite Iran’s involvement in arming various militant groups in the region. The attacks have drawn condolences from neighboring countries and international leaders, with Russian President Vladimir Putin condemning the “shocking cruelty and cynicism” of the bombings, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denouncing them as “heinous terrorist attacks.”
Soleimani, who was seen as a national icon by supporters of Iran’s theocracy, played a significant role in Iran’s regional military activities and was instrumental in supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government during the civil war. His death in 2020 sparked widespread mourning and large processions, and the events in Kerman mark another tragic chapter in the legacy of the highly influential Iranian general.
The attacks are a somber reminder of the ongoing unrest and high tensions in the Middle East, with Iran facing multiple foes and internal challenges, and the region at large grappling with ongoing conflicts and power struggles. Authorities have declared a national day of mourning, and the situation remains in flux as the investigation into the bombings continues.
As the details of the attacks continue to unfold, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to address the nation and provide further updates. The bombings are a tragic and stark reminder of the fragile state of affairs in the Middle East and the ongoing threats faced by the region’s inhabitants.