Hundreds of thousands mourn top Iranian commanders and scientists killed in Israeli strikes
Crowds chanted ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ as the caskets were driven through downtown Tehran
Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday for the funeral of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and other top commanders and nuclear scientists killed during a 12-day war with Israel.
The caskets of Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief General Hossein Salami, who was also the head of the Guard’s ballistic missile programme, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and others were driven on trucks along the capital’s Azadi Street as people in the crowds chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
Salami and Hajizadeh were both killed on the first day of the war, June 13, as Israel launched a war it said was meant to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, specifically targeting military commanders, scientists and nuclear facilities.
State media reported more than 1 million people turned out for the funeral procession, which was impossible to independently confirm, but the dense crowd packed the main Tehran thoroughfare along the entire 4.5km (2.8-mile) route.
There was no immediate sign of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral.
Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, has in past funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their caskets before the open ceremonies, later aired on state television.