Iran to Hold State Funerals for Top Commanders as Executions Follow Israel War Ceasefire
Among the high-ranking officials to be honored is Hossein Salami, the IRGC commander, who was killed on the war’s first day. Salami, known for his close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be buried on Saturday in central Iran.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran will hold national funerals on Saturday for senior military commanders and top scientists killed during the country’s recent 12-day war with Israel, state media reported on Wednesday, just a day after a ceasefire took effect.
Among the high-ranking officials to be honored is Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was killed on the war’s first day. Salami, known for his close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be buried on Saturday in central Iran, IRNA added.
The conflict, which began on June 13, saw Israel launch a sweeping bombardment campaign on Iranian nuclear facilities and military installations, in addition to military targets. Iran’s health ministry reported at least 610 deaths and over 4,700 injuries.
Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel reportedly killed 28 civilians, according to official sources from Israel.
In a parallel development on Wednesday, Iranian authorities announced the execution of three men convicted of espionage for Israel. The judiciary said that Idris Ali, Azad Shojai, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul were arrested for attempting to smuggle equipment into the country to carry out assassinations on behalf of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
"The sentence was carried out this morning [Wednesday morning], and they were hanged," the judiciary statement said, confirming that the executions took place in Urmia, a city in northwestern Iran near the Turkish border. Photos released by the authorities showed the men in blue prison uniforms.
These latest executions follow others carried out earlier this week, with Tehran vowing swift trials and harsh penalties for anyone accused of aiding its arch-foe, Israel.
Iran remains the world's second-highest executor after China, according to human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.
