IS claims responsibility for double bombing near Iranian general's grave

The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for a double bombing that killed 84 people near the tomb of Iranian general Soleimani.

In a post on its Telegram account on January 4, IS said two members of the group "detonated suicide vests" as a crowd gathered near the tomb of Revolutionary Guard General Qasem Soleimani in the southeastern city of Kerman on January 3. Kerman is the hometown of General Soleimani.

Ambulances at the scene of a double bombing in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman during a memorial service for General Soleimani on January 3. Photo: AFP — Ambulances at the scene of a double bombing in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman during a memorial service for General Soleimani on January 3. Photo: *AFP*

The twin bombings took place near the Saheb al-Zaman mosque cemetery in the city of Kerman as crowds were marking the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death. At least 84 people were killed and more than 280 injured.

The IS statement did not detail how its members entered Iran and carried out the attack. It is unclear what motivated IS to carry out the attack, but observers say the militant group's actions may have been aimed at increasing instability in the Middle East, creating conditions for IS to rise.

Iranian media initially said "two bomb bags exploded" at the scene. The first explosion was about 700 meters from Soleimani's grave, the other about a kilometer away.

However, the IRNA news agency later quoted an unnamed source as saying the first explosion "was the result of a suicide bombing". "The cause of the second explosion is likely to be similar to the first," the source said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Tehran would respond strongly to the attack. Iran initially accused the US and Israel of being behind the attack, but Washington and Tel Aviv denied it.

Iranian officials have called for large-scale protests on January 5, when funerals for victims of the twin bombings are held.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council strongly condemned the bombing. The European Union (EU) called it a "terrorist act" that caused large civilian casualties. Saudi Arabia affirmed its solidarity with Iran in this "tragic incident".

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to Iran's President and Supreme Leader, saying the attack was "shocking in its brutality". Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the bombing, saying he was "shocked" to hear the news.

IS claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shi'ite shrine in Iran in 2022 that killed 15 people. IS was also behind twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters, AFP )

Source link