Thousands waved Iraqi flags in the streets of Baghdad amid calls for “revenge” by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, days after President Trump ordered the deaths of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis.
Helicopters circled the demonstrators as shouts of “Death to America” rang through the crowd.
Gen. Gholamali Abuhamzeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in the southern province of Kerman, warned that Iran has identified vital American targets in the region.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West, and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there,” said Abuhamzeh. “Vital American targets in the region have been identified by Iran since a long time ago. Some 35 U.S. targets in the region, as well as Tel Aviv, are within our reach.”
The body of Soleimani will be taken to Tehran before making its way to his hometown of Kerman, Iran.
The strikes came days after Iranian-backed fighters surrounded the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and set fires to the building. President Trump said he ordered the killings to “stop a war.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi attended the procession, and video shows mourners reaching out to touch Soleimani’s casket draped in the Iranian flag.
Thousands of #Iraqis chanting “Death to #America” joined the funeral procession for #Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and #PMF‘s deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. pic.twitter.com/NiBOffk7WS
— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) January 4, 2020
“No no to America …no no to Israel” thousands chanted in #Iraq today at funeral for #Iran’s Qassem Suleimani & Abu Mehdi Muhandis.
PM of Iraq attended, processions took place in different cities: pic.twitter.com/qA5qHrrM5q
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 4, 2020
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi attends the funeral of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani and PMF deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in #Baghdad. https://t.co/ZKTz5xKqYw pic.twitter.com/frBajQUliF
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) January 4, 2020
تشييع قاسم سليماني و ابو مهدي المهندس في بغداد قبل قليل pic.twitter.com/SHpnUlWzrp
— Steven nabil (@thestevennabil) January 4, 2020
