Two rapid consecutive explosions occurred near the burial site of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, resulting in the death of over 103 individuals and injuring at least 140 others. This tragic incident unfolded as Iran commemorated the fourth anniversary of his demise in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The explosions took place during a ceremony near the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque.

"Huge explosion heard near Saheb al-Zaman Mosque" where the head of foreign operations of Iran's Revolutionary Guards is buried in Kerman in southern Iran, AFP reported quoting local media that added shortly afterward, “A second explosion was heard near Saheb al-Zaman Mosque.”

The state media quoted a local official in the Kerman province as saying that the "blasts were caused by terrorist attacks". 

According to the semi-official Nournews, "several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery". 

An online video circulating depicted a grim scene, revealing numerous motionless bodies strewn across the ground. The footage provided a glimpse of the aftermath of the explosions, underscoring the gravity of the incident and its profound impact on the surrounding area.

The cemetery drew a crowd of hundreds, and following the incident, state TV broadcasted scenes of Red Crescent rescuers tending to the injured individuals during the ceremony.

Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman province Red Crescent rescuers said as per Reuters, “Our rapid response teams are evacuating the injured... But there are waves of crowds blocking roads.”

Soleimani was an Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was the commander of the Quds Force, which is an IRGC division primarily responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine military operations, from 1998 until his death. 

He was killed in a US drone strike just outside Baghdad airport.

Image source: AFP