Thousands of Iraqis join Baghdad funeral for slain commanders - GulfToday

Thousands of Iraqis join Baghdad funeral for slain commanders

  • 04 Jan 2020
Baghdad-protest-750

Iraqi militia gather ahead of the funeral of the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in Baghdad. Reuters

Thousands of mourners gathered in Baghdad on Saturday ahead of a funeral procession for Iran's slain military commander Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and others killed in a Friday US air strike in Iraq.

US kills Irans most powerful general in Baghdad strike

US embassy in Baghdad urges citizens to depart Iraq immediately

Friday's attack on Baghdad airport, authorised by US President Donald Trump, was a major escalation in a "shadow war" in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and American allies.

Soleimani was Tehran's most prominent military commander and the architect of its growing influence in the Middle East. Muhandis was the deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) umbrella grouping of paramilitary groups.

The PMF are planning an elaborate funeral procession for both men and the others who died, starting in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, moving towards the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala and ending in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf.

Mourners started gathering in Baghdad's streets from the morning ahead of the start of the procession, waving Iraqi and militia flags in a sombre atmosphere.

Earlier on Saturday, Iraq's PMF had said further air strikes near camp Taji had killed six people and critically wounded three. The attacks hit a convoy of medics, not senior leaders, the grouping said.

Reuters

Related articles

US hits pro-Iran group with deadly strikes in Iraq, Syria

The Pentagon said on Sunday it targeted weapons caches or command and control facilities linked to Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) in Western Iraq, as well as Eastern Syria, in response to a barrage of 30 or more rockets fired on Friday.

30 Dec 2019

Tear gas fired at pro-Iran protesters outside US embassy in Baghdad

Thousands of supporters of Iraqi armed factions close to Iran had massed at the embassy on Tuesday in outrage over US air strikes that killed 25 pro-Iran fighters at the weekend.

01 Jan 2020

US embassy in Baghdad urges citizens to ‘depart Iraq immediately’

"US citizens should depart via airline while possible, and failing that, to other countries via land," the embassy said in a statement. The US strike hit outside Baghdad airport early Friday but security sources told the media it was still open to flights.

03 Jan 2020

56 killed, 200 injured in stampede at the funeral for Soleimani slain in US strike

There was no information what set off the crush. Online videos show people lying apparently lifeless, their faces covered by clothing.

07 Jan 2020

Most Popular Stories

Other Articles

UAE President announces $40m for Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

"Addressing the extinction crisis is not just a moral imperative, but an act of self-preservation as we all depend on nature for our well-being and continued prosperity," says Mohammed Al Bowardi, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of MBZ Fund.

an hour ago

Sheikh Hamdan inaugurates landmark Dubai Reef sustainability initiative with launch of pilot modules

A sustainable initiative by Dubai Can, Dubai Reef is the world’s largest marine reef development project and marks a pioneering step in Dubai’s efforts to promote ecological sustainability.

12 hours ago

UAE hospital SSMC’s doctors successfully remove 30.5kg rare ovarian tumour

The 63-year-old patient, a limousine driver, was recently admitted to SSMC via its Emergency Department (ED), suffering from severe abdominal pain.

13 hours ago

Saudi father sends emotional letter to school after teachers mistakenly issue deceased son’s absence notice

Users of social media platforms circulated a copy of the letter written by Abdul Rahman Bin Ahmed Abu Saadiya to the officials of the Hakim Bin Hizam School in Qena, during which he told them about the death of his son and his request for them to pray for him.

14 hours ago