In Iran, the death toll continues to rise after the double explosion that occurred this Wednesday near the tomb of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, considered the architect of Iranian military operations in the Middle East. The latest figures reported by state media are 73 dead and 170 injured.
Two explosions were heard a few minutes apart. According to television images, rescuers were working on the spot, where many people were gathered for the anniversary of the general’s death. The causes of the double explosion are not yet known.
Who was Qassem Soleimani?
Qassem Soleimani was killed in January 2020, at the age of 62, during an American drone attack in Iraq. A key figure in the Iranian regime, he was also one of the country’s most popular public figures.
After serving in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, Qassem Soleimani quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic Republic’s external operations. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared three days of national mourning at the time of his death.