IRANIAN MOURNERS FLOOD MILITARY LEADER’S HOME

Sea of mourners have taken to the streets of Iranian western town of Ahvaz to pay tribute to Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The bodies of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis arrived in the city earlier.

However, a funeral service for Soleimani will take place later on Sunday in Mashhad, at the holy site of Imam Reza Shrine. 

Nevertheless, Iran will observe three days of national mourning, paying respects to Soleimani.

Soleimani was seen as a national hero and has been called a martyr by the Iranian leadership.

Moreover, in Iraq’s capital on Saturday, thousands of people attended a funeral procession.

They were mourning Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, as they chanted “death to America.”

Mourners wept as they walked alongside the vehicle carrying Soleimani coffin down the streets of Baghdad.

Some carried signs that read, “We are all Muhandis and Soleimani.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi was among the crowd of mourners walking next to the cars carrying the coffins.

Some women carrying flags of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces — the forces al-Muhandis commanded — erupted into tears when the slain commanders were mentioned.

However, many mourners said the attack strengthened their resolve to expel US forces from Iraq.

According to Assifa Abbas, 50, a mother of three PMF fighters. “This strike killed our heroes, but it created a thousand more Hajji Soleimanis and Muhandise. If Parliament doesn’t vote to expel US troops, they will see the true face of the Iraqi street.”

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SOURCE: CNN INTERNATIONAL