03 Jan 2020 | 06:46 AM UTC
Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei declares three days of public mourning January 3
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declares three days of public mourning on January 3 following the death of General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq
Event
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared three days of public mourning on Friday, January 3, after General Qasem Soleimani was killed in an airstrike in Baghdad (Iraq). Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, was targeted by a US airstrike while traveling near Baghdad International Airport (BGW) during the early morning hours of Friday. Public events commemorating Soleimani may be held in the capital Tehran and other major urban areas throughout the country in the coming days.
Context
Soleimani was killed along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and six other individuals while traveling near BGW. According to the US Department of Defense, Soleimani was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.”
Advice
Individuals in Iran are advised to monitor developments to the situation, respect local customs, refrain from discussing political topics in public or on social media, anticipate heightened security measures, and transportation disruptions near associated events, and avoid public gatherings as a precaution.
