Hundreds of thousands of mourners packed the streets of Tehran for a massive funeral procession to honor slain Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. The January 6 ceremonies came three days after the Quds Force commander was killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
Massive Crowds Mourn Slain Iranian Military Leader Qasem Soleimani
- By RFE/RL
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Mourners carried the casket of slain Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani through the streets of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Several major streets were closed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.
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Mourners packed Tehran's Enghelab (Revolution) Square three days after Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport. Soleimani's funeral procession was said to be the largest in Iran since the death of the Islamic republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
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In a rare show of emotion, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei openly wept as he led prayers at the coffin of Qasem Soleimani.
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rohani prayed near the coffins of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in the January 3 U.S. drone strike.
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The new Quds Force leader, General Ismail Qaani, wept on the flag-draped coffin of his slain predecessor, Qasem Soleimani.
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Iranian state television showed live footage of the three-kilometer-long route of the funeral procession.
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Mourners heard from the slain Quds Force commander's daughter, Zeinab Soleimani. She told the crowds that Iran would avenge her father's death, saying the assassination would bring a "dark day" for the United States.
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Mourners holding posters of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
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The coffin of General Qasem Soleimani and coffins of others who were killed in Iraq by the January 3 U.S. drone strike.
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Mourners set a U.S. and an Israeli flag on fire during a funeral procession.
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Mourners carry mock coffins with images of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Iranian mourners carry a huge banner showing the image of Qasem Soleimani with the slogan "hard revenge is on the way."
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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh from the Gaza Strip traveled to Tehran to attend Qasem Soleimani's funeral. As leader of Iran's elite Quds Force, Soleimani was instrumental in the spread of Iranian influence across the Middle East.
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Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad (second left) attended a memorial service for Soleimani in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Iran's Quds Force had shored up support for Syrian President Bashir al-Assad when he looked close to defeat.
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A supporter of the Huthi rebels in Saada, Yemen attached a picture of Soleimani to his clothing. The Iran-backed rebels have called for "swift reprisals" for the killing of the Quds Force commander.
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Ahead of Soleimani's funeral ceremony, Tehran and Washington had engaged in heated rhetoric as world leaders called for calm in the wake of the January 3 assassination.
