Iran holds funeral for top military commanders and scientists killed by Israel
Mourners dressed in black lined streets in
Iran's
capital Tehran on Saturday as a funeral was held for senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month's war with
Israel
.
At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Their coffins were driven into Tehran's Azadi Square adorned with their pictures as well as rose petals and flowers, as crowds waved Iranian flags.
State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display. The funeral, dubbed the 'funeral procession of the Martyrs of Power', was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children, it reported.
READ MORE
Iranians attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian generals and scientists who were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes in Tehran. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA
Attending the funeral were president Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Maj Gen Bagheri, Gen Salami and Gen Hajizadeh were killed on June 13th, the first day of the war.
Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said its war against regional rival Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The
United Nations
nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, has said it has 'no credible indication' of Tehran having an active, co-ordinated weapons programme.
A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had killed more than 30 senior security officials and 11 senior nuclear scientists during the war.
According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the 12-day war, 13 of them children and 49 women, before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 people were injured.
Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians.
Israel's health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured. – Reuters
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025
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The Irish Sun
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‘Death to America' chants ring out at funeral for Iranian commanders killed in war as Trump warns US would bomb again
THE mass funeral for the Iranian commanders wiped out in the war has been plagued by "Death to America" chants and the burning of Israeli flags. Over a million people have reportedly lined the streets of Tehran just hours after Donald Trump warned he would bomb the evil regime again if they ever cross the US. 5 Over a million people have reportedly lined the streets of Tehran for the funeral of Iranian commanders Credit: Getty 5 Iranians burn the Israeli flag during the funeral Credit: AFP 5 Twisted chants of 'Death to America' could be heard ringing out across the event Credit: Getty Twisted chants of "Death to America" could be heard ringing out across the event today as pro-Ayatollah mourners flocked to the public processio n. The caskets of top military commanders and nuclear scientists all eliminated by Israel during the gruelling 12-day war were all hauled through the capital. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps chief General Hossein Salami - known as one of Iran's most powerful military leaders - and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh were among the bodies being laid to rest. Both were directly targeted by Israel for their role in developing Tehran's ballistic missile program. The two twisted generals were taken out within hours of the conflict kicking off on June 13. Some mourners even started to trample on the flags of Israel and the US as the caskets came past with others setting them alight. It comes amid a surging number of Iranians who are turning against the evil regime following the war. Many have voiced their issues with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was again nowhere to be seen at the funeral. Most read in The US Sun The cowering 86-year-old The US president has even claimed he Funeral-goers at one point pledged their allegiance to the twisted leader as they chanted: 'Oh noble Leader, we are ready!" Around 60 caskets were wheeled out with many being draped in the national colours of red, white and green. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi - now among the most high-profile names in Tehran's cabinet - led the procession. He made a rare admission as he said the number of lives lost in the short-lived conflict is 'hard and painful' . 5 Smoke could be seen at the ceremony Credit: Getty 5 Donald Trump warned he would bomb the evil regime again if they ever cross the US Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Irish Times
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'It's like a hope,' says another man, behind him, who explains that they form 'workshops': five members in their workshop operate together, pooling anything they find. 'I never found gold, I only found small coins,' says a third searcher, who still earns an occasional $100. His dream is to discover a jar of gold. A short walk away, another set of apparent gold diggers are going to more extreme measures, using a €45,000 mechanical digger to lift up huge chunks of earth. Though a metal detector and shovel lie close by, when asked what they are doing, one responds that they are 'fixing' something. Another deflects, beginning to talk about how many nearby historical sites the Assad regime destroyed instead. Though gold diggers are easy to find in this part of Syria, they try to maintain secrecy around the specifics of their work. 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Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Iran holds funeral for top military commanders and scientists killed by Israel
Mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran's capital Tehran on Saturday as a funeral was held for senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month's war with Israel . At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Their coffins were driven into Tehran's Azadi Square adorned with their pictures as well as rose petals and flowers, as crowds waved Iranian flags. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display. The funeral, dubbed the 'funeral procession of the Martyrs of Power', was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children, it reported. READ MORE Iranians attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian generals and scientists who were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes in Tehran. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA Attending the funeral were president Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Maj Gen Bagheri, Gen Salami and Gen Hajizadeh were killed on June 13th, the first day of the war. Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said its war against regional rival Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The United Nations nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, has said it has 'no credible indication' of Tehran having an active, co-ordinated weapons programme. A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had killed more than 30 senior security officials and 11 senior nuclear scientists during the war. According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the 12-day war, 13 of them children and 49 women, before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 people were injured. Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians. Israel's health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured. – Reuters (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025
