Near the grave of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani explosions claimed at least 103 lives

In what authorities described as a terror assault, twin explosions near the grave of military leader Qasem Soleimani on Wednesday left at least 103 people dead and 141 injured in the Iranian city of Kerman.

The explosions, which state TV reported were at least partially caused by bombs, occurred four years after Soleimani was killed in an American airstrike. This could heighten tensions in the area, which have increased since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began.

As pilgrims were visiting the site, the first explosion occurred 2,300 feet (700 meters) from Soleimani’s grave, and the second occurred 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) distant, according to IRNA.

Soleimani was assassinated on Wednesday, April 4, 2017, at Baghdad International Airport by a US airstrike that was ordered by the former president, Donald Trump.

According to IRINN, another state television channel, a bomb hidden in a suitcase inside a Peugeot 405 automobile looked to be remotely detonated, which is what caused the first explosion next to Soleimani’s tomb.

In an interview with Iran’s official news station IRIB, Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated that the first explosion occurred at 3:00 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET). Twenty minutes after the first explosion, according to Vahidi, another devastating explosion occurred as more pilgrims arrived to assist the injured.

As of yet, no organization has taken credit for the explosions.

Large crowds were seen running in the area following the explosion in videos that were released by Iranian official television.

Additionally, footage showed ambulances driving away from the area through dense crowds and bloodied victims being removed from the scene.

Following the explosions, Iran declared Thursday to be a day of mourning.

One of the most influential figures in Iran in the past, Soleimani oversaw the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, an elite force that manages Iran’s international operations and which the US designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

“Responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,” according to the Pentagon, was Soleimani and his troops.

Soleimani, who has commanded the Quds Force since 1998 and was referred to as Iran’s “shadow commander,” was in charge of the country’s military activities in Syria and Iraq.

Blast occurs during a tense moment in the area

The explosion happened in the midst of increased regional tensions as Israel is waging a three-month war in Gaza against Hamas, which was sparked by the terrorist organization’s attack on Israel on October 7.

The war has resulted in clashes outside of Israel and Gaza, frequently involving militias backed by Iran, and has claimed the lives of over 23,000 people in Gaza, according to the enclave’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

A top Hamas official was slain on Tuesday in a blast in a Beirut suburb, which a US official claimed CNN was orchestrated by Israel. Although Israel hasn’t acknowledged or disputed its role, the militant organization Hezbollah, which rules the area, and Hamas have accused Israel of being involved and promised retaliation.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, will make his third statement since the start of the conflict on Wednesday. Before the incident in Beirut, the address was announced.

Iran and a number of its armed allies declared last week that Israel had killed a senior Iranian commander in Syria and threatened to exact revenge. Israel remained silent on the subject.

Tehran is charged by Israel with equipping and funding Hamas. According to remarks made by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last month, Iran is one of seven arenas from which his nation is being assaulted in this “multi-arena war.” “We have addressed and taken action in six of these directives,” he declared.

Following the explosions, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced “terrorism in all its forms” in a letter to President Ebrahim Raisi and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran on Wednesday. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest order for Putin, who has been charged with many terror attacks throughout his war in Ukraine by both Kyiv and other international organizations.

Additionally, the US has recently increased its military presence in the Middle East. Following an attack that left three US soldiers injured, the Pentagon launched airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah, which receives support from Iran, and “affiliated groups” in Iraq last month.

Additionally, last week, after coming under fire in the Red Sea, US helicopters sunk three vessels that belonged to Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, killing everyone on board. This was the first time the US had murdered rebel group members since hostilities started earlier in the year.

According to the White House, it wasn’t looking for a larger fight. In response to Israel’s attack on Hamas, the Houthis have attacked multiple cargo ships in the Red Sea, obstructing trade in one of the most significant waterways in the world.