Iran Holds State Funeral for Military Commanders Killed in Israel War

Mourners attend the funeral ceremony of the Iranian armed forces generals, nuclear scientists, and their family members who were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran (Image credit: AP)

'Historic' state funeral: Iran began a state funeral service in Tehran on Saturday for around 60 people, including military commanders killed in its war with Israel. It also honored 14 nuclear scientists killed in an Israeli attack codenamed 'Operation Rising Lion.' The proceedings started at 8:00 am local time (0430 GMT) in the capital as government offices and many businesses were closed for the occasion. Mourners gathered in the Islamic Revolution Square to honor the fallen commanders and scientists. Iranian state TV broadcasted footage of mourners dressed in black, waving Iranian flags, and holding pictures of the killed military commanders. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior government officials also attended the event. Images showed coffins draped in Iranian flags and bearing portraits of the deceased commanders in uniform near Enghelab Square in central Tehran. According to Iran's health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 627 civilians. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say Iranian attacks have killed 28 people. The ceremony is to be followed by a funeral procession to Azadi Square in Tehran. Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Development Coordination Council, described it as a 'historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution.' Among those killed is Mohammad Bagheri, a major general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the second-in-command of the armed forces. He will be buried alongside his wife and daughter, a journalist for a local media outlet, all killed in the Israeli attack. Nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, also killed in the strikes, will be buried with his wife. Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, who was killed on the first day of the war, will also be laid to rest following Saturday's ceremony. Of the 60 people being buried, four are children.