Iran holds state funeral for military commander and scientist killed in war in Israel; tens of thousands line streets to see him off, shouting “Death to America”
Iran held a state funeral for about 60 people, including military commanders and nuclear scientists who died in the Israeli war today, and thousands of people lined the streets in the center of the capital Tehran to see them off.
According to AFP and AP reports, the state funeral began at 8 a.m. local time (12:30 p.m. on the 28th, Taiwan time). Iran’s state television announced that “the ceremony to commemorate the martyrs has officially begun” and broadcast footage showing people in black waving national flags, some holding photos of the dead military commander.
According to Central News Agency, when the hearses of Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the aerospace force in charge of the ballistic missile program, passed through Azadi Street in Tehran, some people in the crowd shouted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Both Salami and Hajizadeh died on the day Israel opened the war on the 13th. Israel said the strike was aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear program, so it specifically targeted military commanders, scientists and nuclear facilities.
In the funeral footage broadcast by Iranian state television, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not seen.
After the “Memorial to the Martyrs” ceremony, the funeral procession will go to Azadi Square in Tehran.
Today’s funeral was held for 60 victims, including 4 children and 4 women.
