Iran marks 5th anniversary of top commander Soleimani's assassination

Tehran (The Uttam Hindu): Iranians across the country commemorated the fifth anniversary of the U.S. drone strike that killed top commander Qassem Soleimani the former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The strike which occurred near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 2020 was condemned by Iran as an act of "state terrorism." Ceremonies were held in numerous cities, including Tehran and Soleimani’s hometown of Kerman where thousands gathered to honor him and other "martyrs of the resistance front." In Tehran a large event took place at Imam Khomeini's Mosalla prayer hall attended by high-ranking officials such as President Masoud Pezeshkian Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf alongside military leaders like IRGC Chief Hossein Salami and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani. Soleimani's family also attended the gathering.

At the event attendees displayed pictures of Soleimani Muhandis and other fallen commanders of regional groups, including the late Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. Pezeshkian praised Soleimani for his life-long dedication to defending the oppressed and serving the people emphasizing that his sacrifice shamed the oppressors. He also spoke about the dangers of efforts by "enemies" to sow division among Muslims stressing the duty to thwart such plans and prevent foes from exploiting differences to advance their harmful objectives.

In Kerman, the ceremony concluded with thousands of people visiting Soleimani’s tomb to pay their respects, marking a poignant moment of remembrance for the commander who played a significant role in shaping Iran's regional influence.