WORLD WAR III. "Pandora's box" was opened by Israel. Massacre with 103 dead in Iran
"Pandora's box" was opened in M. Anatoli: Israel is talking about World War III - Massacre with 103 dead in Iran - Statement by H. Nasrallah... (vid)
"Today is historic and will be remembered for what follows"
"Pandora's box" opened Middle East. The entire region is closer than ever to a generalized conflagration that could even lead to World War III, Israel's Foreign Minister I. Katz said.
Within 48 hours, Israel struck major targets in Syria, hit Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut, and today, a major terrorist attack took place in Iran with 103 dead and over 140 injured.
Already Iran accuses Israel of organizing and carrying out the bombing near the tomb of the Revolutionary Guard general Qassem Soleimani
In a few minutes, the speech of the leader of Hezbollah, H. Nasrallah, is expected. Several Iranian Guard Generals have landed in Beirut to organize the response to Israel
The situation is very critical for the entire Middle East. It is certain that there will be a response from Hezbollah and Iran.
Iran: 103 dead from the terrorist attacks in the Kerman cemetery - Hundreds injured
At least 103 people were killed and 141 others wounded today in a twin blast, which Iranian officials described as a terrorist attack, in the Iranian city of Kerman, near the tomb of Revolutionary Guards general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020, a state media reported. information.
"The number of people killed rose to 103, as there were people who succumbed to their injuries," state news agency Irna reported, adding that some of the wounded were "in critical condition."
Crowds had gathered early at the cemetery to pay their respects to Soleimani, marking the four-year anniversary of his assassination by US military forces in a drone strike.
The explosions occurred 10 minutes apart as crowds gathered in the area for the fourth anniversary of the killing of the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards in a US operation in Baghdad. According to Iran's Mehr news agency, the explosions were caused by devices that were activated by remote control.
It is recalled that on January 3, 2020, Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran's strategy in the Middle East, was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad, following an attack on the US embassy by pro-Iranian Iraqi protesters.
After serving in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Soleimani quickly rose through the ranks to become head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, tasked with the Islamic Republic's external operations.
Condolences from Erdogan
“We are deeply saddened by the heinous terrorist attacks that took place in Iran's Kerman province. May God have mercy on those who lost their lives in the attacks and I wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. I express my condolences to the friendly and brotherly Iranian people," wrote Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his personal account on X (formerly Twitter).
H. Nasrallah's statement shortly - "Today is a historic day and will be remembered for what will follow"
In its announcement, Hezbollah emphasizes that the killing of Saleh al-Arouri is a " serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance," warning that "this crime will not go unanswered and unpunished." ».
He ends by saying that "today is historic and will be remembered for what is to come."
Two US officials have admitted that Israel is behind the strike in Beirut.
A senior Israeli official confirmed that Israel did not warn the US, but said that Israel notified the Biden administration "as the operation was taking place".
Netanyahu's spokesman later tried to deflect any blame for the Beirut hit by saying:
Whoever carried out the attack in Beirut did not attack Lebanon, but the Palestinian organization Hamas, pointed out the spokesman of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mark Regev.
"Whoever did this, it is not an attack on the Lebanese state. It is not an attack on the terrorist organization Hezbollah. It is an attack on Hamas, that much is clear. There are many Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, but whoever carried out this attack had surgical precision and aimed at Hamas ," Regev said.
Israeli Foreign Minister: We are at the peak of a Third World War!
The new Israeli foreign minister, Katz, emphasized that Israel is "on the cusp of a Third World War against Iran and radical Islam."
Speaking to diplomats and ministry officials, Israel's new Foreign Minister stressed that his first priority is to bring the hostages back home: "Our commitment as a country and as a ministry is first of all to bring the hostages home with new initiatives, to exert global pressure."
He added that his second priority is to maintain international legitimacy for a continued battle against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
