Mourners in Baghdad chanted “death to America” after Iran’s top general was killed in a US airstrike – as Tehran said it would punish Americans within reach of the country.
Major GeneralQassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, was killed in an airstrike on his motorcade early on Friday near the Iraqi capital’s international airport.
His killing, and that of Iraqi militant leaders including paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al Muhandi and eight others, has increased global tensions, with Iran vowing harsh retaliation while US president Donald Trump said he ordered the strike to prevent conflict.
During a funeral procession on Saturday for the men in Baghdad, mourners – mostly men in black military fatigues – carried Iraqi flags and the flags of Iran-backed militias who are fiercely loyal to Maj Gen Soleimani.
The mourners, many in tears, marched alongside militia vehicles in a solemn procession which began at the Imam Kadhim shrine, one of Shia Islam’s most revered sites.
Chants of: “No, no, America” and “death to America, death to Israel” were heard, as well as: “America is the Great Satan.”
Two helicopters hovered over the procession, which was attended by prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and leaders of Iran-backed militias.
As the funeral march took place, Tasnim news agency quotes a senior Revolutionary Guard commander saying Iran will punish Americans wherever they are within reach of the country.
General Gholamali Abuhamzeh said Iran had identified 36 US targets in the region, including in Tel Aviv and ships in the Gulf.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there, “he said.
” Vital American targets in the region have been identified by Iran since long time ago.
“Some 036 US targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach. “
In the hours after the airstrike, Iranian defense minister Amir Hatami threatened” crushing revenge “and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Kh amenei, said there would be “harsh retaliation”.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani added: “Soleimani’s martyrdom will make Iran more decisive to resist America’s expansionism and to defend our Islamic values.”
On Friday, Mr Trump said the US carried out the airstrike because Maj Gen Soleimani had been planning “imminent and sinister attacks on US diplomats and military personnel”.
In an address from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Mr Trump said: “What the US did yesterday should have been done long ago – a lot of lives would have been saved.
“We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war. “
An official with the US-led coalition in Iraq said operations have been scaled back and” security and defensive measures “have been boosted at bases hosting coalition forces.
An extra 3, US forces have been dispatched to neighbor Kuwait.
Iraq – a close US and Iran ally – condemned the airstrike and called it an attack on its national sovereignty.
Its parliament will meet for an emergency session on Sunday as it comes under pressure to expel the 5, 226 American troops based in the country to help prevent an Islamic State (IS) resurgence.
The Pentagon has said Maj Gen Soleimani, (*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, “orchestrated” attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the past few months and approved theattacks on the US embassy in Baghdadearlier this week.
Iran’s second most powerful person after the supreme leader, Maj Gen Soleimani hea ded the overseas arm of the Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force, and was the spearhead of Iran’s growing military influence in the Middle East.
But Mr Trump declared Maj Gen Soleimani’s “reign of terror” was over , adding the general had “made the death of innocent people his sick passion”.
Mr Trump added: “I’ve deep respect for the Iranian people – they are a remarkable people with an incredible heritage and unlimited potential.
” We do not seek regime change.
“However, the Iranian regime’s aggression in the region, including the use of proxy fighters to destabilize its neighbors, must end and it must end now.”
The US embassy in Baghdad has urged American citizens to depart Iraq immediately “via airline while possible, and failing that, to other countries via land”.
There are concerns foreign prisoners in Iran will be affected by the repercussions, with the husband of British woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been imprisoned there since 2016, saying it was a setback for her situation.
Richard Ratcliffe told Sky News he spoke to his wife from prison on Saturday morning, saying all the foreign prisoners were “shocked and worried “and it is” very ominous “for American prisoners.
” It’s a setback for any further rapprochement, “he said.
” Nazanin is held by the Revolutionary Guard, they’re not good guys but they’re now angry, not good guys. “
Britain’s foreign office updated its travel advice on Saturday morning, advising against all travel to Iraq, except the Kurdistan region where only essential travel should take place.
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