The two blasts occurred near the grave of General Qassem Soleimani, a powerful regional powerbroker and leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani is revered in Iran, while also providing support to Shiite militias across Lebanon, Gaza Strip and Yemen.
Authorities believe both explosions were caused by suitcase bombs. A delayed second explosion took place as people fled from the first, which is a tactic often employed by militants to increase casualties.
What happened?
At an Iranian cemetery in Kerman during an event commemorating the fourth anniversary of IRGC commander Quasem Soleimani’s 2020 murder, two explosions struck simultaneously – both times targeting his bodyguard. Soleimani, revered as a national hero for defeating Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria as leader of Iran’s overseas operations arm, the Quds Force, set Iran’s regional military agenda, supplying guidance, funding, weapons, intelligence services to allied governments as well as rebel groups such as Hezbollah from Lebanon or Yemen Houthi rebels from Yemen armed groups allied governments or Houthi rebels from Yemen.
Mayor of Kerman and Iranian government-controlled media initially claimed the explosions were caused by gas explosions; however, a senior judicial official later stated they were due to remote-controlled bombs. Tasnim news agency quoted sources who stated the bombs, detonated every 10 minutes between bomb blasts, had been placed in bags that did not require passing security gates and were placed within bags that did not need clearance by security gate security systems. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack while offering his condolences to victims and their families.
Who was responsible?
Soleimani served as one of the top generals in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military branch with significant international sway. As commander of Quds Force – Iran’s overseas operations arm – Soleimani helped organize missions providing guidance, funds, weapons and intelligence support to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Senior government official and the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported two suitcase bombs had gone off near Soleimani’s gravesite, killing 95 people. A second explosion took place 15 minutes later – an often employed tactic used by militants to increase casualties – while footage on social media corroborated this account.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi strongly condemned this “heinous crime” and announced Thursday as a day of mourning, while attributing blame to Iran’s “evil and criminal enemies.” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged vengeance against those “who could not endure the love and enthusiasm of people coming together to visit the grave of their great commander,” yet did not name specific enemies such as America and Israel as perpetrators.
How many people were killed in blast?
Iran’s emergency services confirmed the death toll, including three police officers among them. Tasnim news agency reported that two bomb-packed suitcases caused the explosions.
Explosions occurred within 700 metres and 1 kilometre of Soleimani’s tomb, who led the Quds Force as part of their covert military operations across the Middle East and beyond – widely seen as one of the country’s most influential figures.
Kerman-born General Qassem Soleimani became an instant national icon as he extended Iran’s reach across Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. Additionally, Hezbollah (Lebanese Shiite militia that has battled Israel in Lebanon for decades and is key ally of Tehran) forged close ties with him; although Israel conducted targeted killings of IRGC officials as well as attacks that damaged Iran-Hezbollah relations in Beirut without conducting mass casualty bombings against Iranian cities or residential neighborhoods within Iran itself.
What are the possible motives?
This blast occurred near Beirut’s port and central district, close to several populated areas. Unfortunately, its source has yet to be ascertained.
Lebanese officials claim the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket fired by Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, but US intelligence agencies have cast doubt upon this account.
An independent investigation should assess if Lebanon’s failure to ensure safe storage and removal of combustible and potentially explosive materials as well as investigate their aftermath breached Lebanon’s obligations to uphold human rights. Furthermore, this mission should identify other violations committed by authorities within Lebanon as well as suggest steps they should take in order to address them.
Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with ten Lebanese government, security, and judicial officials, such as the caretaker prime minister and director general of State Security; two lawyers representing individuals accused of criminal negligence regarding the explosion; an expert researcher on Beirut port architecture; as well as seven survivors who witnessed it first hand.
