ISIS Claims Responsibility For Iran's Twin Blasts
Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Thursday for the twin explosions that rocked a memorial ceremony in Kerman, Iran, killing nearly 100 people.
Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Thursday for the twin explosions that rocked a memorial ceremony in Kerman, Iran, killing nearly 100 people.
The attack targeted a gathering commemorating the former IRGC's Middle East operative, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone in 2020, killing as many as 94 people and injuring 284.
The extremist group took responsibility for the attack through a statement posted on its affiliated Telegram channels, and published a video showing the blurred images of two alleged suicide bombers.
According to the IRNA state news agency, an official confirmed that a male suicide bomber had been seen through surveillance footage at Kerman's cemetery during the memorial.
The second explosion according to the official is suspected to have been carried out by a separate suicide bomber, though it has not been confirmed.
Iranian officials earlier blamed Israel and the United States for the bombing. Israel has ignored the accusation while Washington has dismissed it. Tehran, which often claims ISIS was created by the US, might still continue to point fingers at Washington, at least for its domestic audience.
Iranian dissidents, however, have blamed the Iranian regime for having had a role in the attack as a way of garnering support from a disgruntled populace.
Initially reporting 103 casualties, officials later revised the count downward, citing duplicate names on the victim list and the severity of injuries sustained by some. Despite adjustments, a considerable number of wounded individuals remain in critical condition, heightening concerns of a potential rise in the death toll.
