At least 56 people were killed and 21 injured in a stampede at a funeral procession for Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman, according to the AP, citing Iranian state television.
The big picture: The hometown burial marks the end of a three-day-long mourning period for Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq last Friday. Funerals in cities across Iran for Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a senior Iraqi militia commander who also died in the Baghdad strike, have drawn huge crowds.
- Officials aren't quite sure what sparked the stampede, but it delayed Soleimani's burial, per AP.
In photos: Soleimani's other funeral processions around the country over the last few days...
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (left 4) and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left 5) with the coffins of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi-Iranian paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Photo: Iranian Leader Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An aerial view of Tehran's funeral procession. Photo: Iranian Leader Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Iranians carry the coffins during the Tehran funeral ceremony. Photo: Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The coffins of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi-Iranian paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis are transported from Ahvaz International Airport after arriving in Iran from Iraq. Photo: Fatemeh Rahimavian/Fars news/AFP via Getty Images Ahvaz became on Sunday the first place in Iran to hold a funeral for the commanders. Photo: Hossein Mersadi/Fars News/AFP via Getty Images Military personnel carry the casket of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani upon arrival at Ahvaz International Airport. Photo: Hossein MersadiI/Fars News/AFP via Getty Images Iranians mourn over the casket of Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Photo: Hossein Mersadi/Fars News/AFP via Getty Images Go deeper: The next move on Iran
Editor's note: This article has been updated as Iranian state television has revised its death (first from 35, then 32) and injury (first from 48, then 190) tolls from the stampede.
