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Thousands of people have gathered in the Iraqi capital Baghdad to pay tribute to Iranian President General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike exactly one year ago.
A supporter of the Iraqi militia Hashid al-Shaabi with a photo of his former commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Slogans such as “Revenge” and “No to America” saluted the crowd, which gathered at the site where a US drone struck two vehicles near Baghdad International Airport last year.
Qassem Soleimani, a general in Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, and Iraqi Shiite militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were two of the eight killed when their vehicles exploded. Several of the nearby walls still have traces of chips.
According to the United States, Soleimani was responsible for a series of attacks against US troops in Iraq carried out by Shiite militia groups.
– We want to tell the enemies of the United States and Islam that they can attack us. But we will continue to resist despite the bloodshed, says Batul Najjar, who is participating in the demonstration in Baghdad.
The anniversary of the attack, which some observers feared could turn into a war between Iran and the United States, is also being highlighted in neighboring Iran and by its allies in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, among others.
After Soleimani’s death, the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of all US forces leaving the country. But about 3,000 American soldiers remain.
The beginning of the week of mourning comes at a time when tensions have risen again between Iran and the United States with increasing rhetoric from both sides, where, among other things, American B-52 bombers have flown into the region in what is described as “a signal” to Tehran.
Iranian Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, vowed on Saturday to respond to any enemy action.
