In Pictures

Gallery|Soleimani assassination

In Pictures: Mourners march in Baghdad funeral for Soleimani

Thousands of Iraqis join the funeral procession for Iranian general Soleimani, killed in a US air strike on Friday.

Mourners surround a car carrying the coffins of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, killed in a US air strike, during their funeral processio
Thousands of Iraqis chant 'Death to America' during the funeral procession. [Sabah Arar/AFP]
Published On 4 Jan 2020

Thousands of mourners in Baghdad have joined the funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several others killed in a US air strike in Iraq‘s capital, Baghdad.

The powerful paramilitary group Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces, or PMF) planned an elaborate funeral procession for Soleimani, al-Muhandis and the others who were killed, starting in Baghdad, moving to the Shia holy city of Karbala and ending in the holy city of Najaf later on Saturday.

The air strike was authorised by US President Donald Trump and signalled an escalation in tensions between the US and Iran.

Supporters of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force and Iraq''s Hezbollah brigades attend the funeral of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani (portrait) and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi a
At least eight people were killed in Friday morning's US strike on a convoy near Baghdad airport. [Ahmad AL Rubaye/AFP]
Advertisement
A coffin is seen inside a car during the funeral of the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu M
A coffin is seen inside a car during the funeral of the Major-General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. [Wissm al-Okili/Reuters]
Mourners gesture as they attend the funeral of the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi
The cortege set off from Kadhimiya, a Shia pilgrimage district of Baghdad, before heading to the Green Zone government and diplomatic district [Wissm al-Okili/Reuters]
A woman holds the picture of the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who w
A woman holds the picture of the Major-General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis ahead of their funeral in Baghdad. [Khalid al-Mousily/Reuters]
Mohammed al-Tabatabai (C), deputy Secretary General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, attends the funeral of Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian military commander Qasem Soleiman
Mohammed al-Tabatabai (C), deputy Secretary General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, attends the funeral. [Sabah Arar/AFP]
Supporters of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force and Iraq''s Hezbollah brigades pose for a picture next to a poster of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani (portrait) during a funeral, for S
Supporters of the Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary force and Iraq's Hezbollah brigades pose for a picture next to a poster of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani (portrait) during his funeral. [Ahmad Al Rubaye/AFP]
Advertisement
Iraq''s Popular Mobilization Forces hold a funeral for the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu
Soleimani and al-Muhandis's deaths are a potential turning point in the geopolitics of the Middle East and Iran has vowed a "harsh" response. [Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters]
Supporters of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force and Iraq''s Hezbollah brigades attend the funeral of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis
Iran is observing three days of national mourning in honour of Soleimani who is widely believed to have been the second-most powerful figure in Iran. [Ahmad AL Rubaye/AFP]
Mourners attend the funeral of the Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, top commander of the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who
Some of the mourners called on Iraq and the PMF to respond to the attack, saying it violated Iraqi sovereignty and targeted their fighters. [Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters]