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  • 27 Dec, 2024

ISIS has claimed two bombings at a monument to counter-terrorism commander General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, southeastern Iran, killing at least 84 people and wounding dozens more. In a statement on a joint Telegram channel, two members of the terrorist group said they detonated explosive belts on crowds gathered at a cemetery to mark the anniversary of the killing of US General Suleimani.

Earlier, an anonymous source told the official IRNA news agency that the first explosion, which occurred at a cemetery in Kerman, General Soleimani's hometown, was "the result of a suicide attack."

The report said: "The suicide bomber in the first incident was a man whose body was completely mutilated in the blast and the identity of the suicide bomber is being established."

"The reason for the second explosion could be the same," the source told IRNA. According to some sources, the explosion site was 1.5 km and 2.7 km away from General Suleimani's grave, making it impossible to pass through the checkpoint in this area.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned the "cowardly terrorist attack" in Kerman and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the Iranian government.

A day of remembrance was held in Iran on Thursday for the victims of the terrorist attacks. People gathered in dozens of cities across the country and chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America."

And Iranians are preparing for mass protests after weekly prayers across the country on Friday when funerals will be held for the dead. Iran's top security agency on Thursday ordered Iran's intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies to immediately identify and punish those behind Wednesday's blast that killed dozens at a memorial service for the region's most prominent anti-terrorism figure.

On Thursday, the Supreme National Security Council (NSC) held a special meeting to hear and evaluate the organization's report and decided that "intelligence services must urgently pursue leads in terrorist operations and identify and bring in hired criminals."

"The role of corrupt minds who have always supported terrorists in attacking innocent women, men, and children around the world must be identified and accurately reported in this incident," the statement said.

He added: "The relevant agencies must anticipate and prevent the perpetrators, take decisive action, and take steps to fairly punish those who commit or support these crimes."