Qasem Soleimani's body returned to Iran

Published January 5, 2020
Iranian mourners carry the coffin of the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport. — Reuters
Iranian mourners carry the coffin of the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport. — Reuters
People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Iran on Jan 5. — Reuters
People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Iran on Jan 5. — Reuters
People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Iran on Jan 5. — Reuters
People attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Iran on Jan 5. — Reuters

The body of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in Iraq in a US military strike, was returned to Iran on Sunday and driven through thousands of mourners, the official IRIB news agency reported.

Soleimani, the architect of Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations as head of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport.

Read more: Qasem Soleimani — the general who became an Iran icon by targeting US

While many Iranians have rallied to show grief over the death of Soleimani, regarded as the country's second most powerful figure after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others worry his death might push the country to war with a superpower.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites very hard if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.

Khamenei promised harsh revenge and declared three days of mourning on Friday.

Soleimani's body was flown to the city of Ahvaz in southwest Iran.

IRIB posted a video clip of a casket wrapped in an Iranian flag being unloaded from a plane as a military band played.

Thousands of mourners dressed in black marched through the streets of Ahvaz beating their chests in live footage aired on state TV.

Soleimani's casket was driven amidst the large crowds on the back of a truck.

The body of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in the attack with Soleimani, was also flown to Ahvaz, according to IRIB.

Read more: Ceremonies to honour general killed by US begin in Iran's Ahvaz

Tens of thousands of people marched in Iraq on Saturday to mourn Soleimani and al-Muhandis, chanting “Death to America”.

Iranian parliamentarians also chanted “Death to America” in a parliamentary session shown on state TV on Sunday.

Oman has called on the United States and Iran to seek dialogue to ease tensions, Oman News Agency reported on Sunday.

Oman, which maintains friendly ties with both the United States and Iran, has previously been a go-between for the two countries.

On Saturday evening, a rocket fell inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone near the US embassy, another hit the nearby Jadriya neighbourhood and two more were fired at the Balad air base north of the city, but no one was killed, the Iraqi military said in a statement.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Opinion

Editorial

US asylum freeze
Updated 05 Dec, 2025

US asylum freeze

IT is clear that the Trump administration is using last week’s shooting incident, in which two National Guard...
Colours of Basant
05 Dec, 2025

Colours of Basant

THE mood in Lahore is unmistakably festive as the city prepares for Basant’s colourful kites to once again dot the...
Karachi’s death holes
05 Dec, 2025

Karachi’s death holes

THE lidless manholes in Karachi lay bare the failure of the city administration to provide even the bare necessities...
Protection for all
Updated 04 Dec, 2025

Protection for all

ACHIEVING true national cohesion is not possible unless Pakistanis of all confessional backgrounds are ensured their...
Growing trade gap
04 Dec, 2025

Growing trade gap

PAKISTAN’S merchandise exports have been experiencing a pronounced decline for the last several months, with...
Playing both sides
04 Dec, 2025

Playing both sides

THERE has been yet another change in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The PML-N’s regional...