The Middle East was rocked by a tragic event this past week when twin blasts near the grave of a slain Iranian commander in Iraq killed more than one hundred people and injured hundreds more. The blasts occurred in the city of Jurf al-Sakhr, which is located in the southern Iraqi city of Hilla, and left more than a hundred dead and over seventy injured.
The city was visited by hundreds of followers of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in an airstrike earlier this year. Soleimani had been buried at a nearby cemetery, and was widely regarded as a national hero in Iran. The blasts targeted a procession carrying flowers to Soleimani’s grave to commemorate the anniversary of the general’s death.
The cause of the blasts have not yet been determined, however there have been numerous potential causes suggested by Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Prime Minister of Syria Bashar al-Assad, and a regional armed militia.
These bombings are just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks in Iraq and beyond. They also serve as a reminder of the chaotic situation in the Middle East, as well as the sectarian tension between Sunni and Shiite militants.
The victims of the blasts have yet to be identified, however local officials at the Iraqi Interior Administration released a statement saying the “martyred and wounded were civilians.”
This devastating incident highlights the need for better security in Iraq and the surrounding region. Despite ongoing efforts by the Iraqi government and international actors, terrorism continues to plague the Middle East and such horrific acts of violence are sadly all too common.
