 "Shortly after arriving in Baghdad on January 3, 2020, Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a key figure in the development of Iran's regional dominance, was struck by a drone strike that was claimed by the United States. File image/Reuters")
Iran held rallies across major cities on Thursday (January 2) to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020.
In Tehran, demonstrators gathered at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque, chanting slogans such as “Down with America” and “Down with Israel” while holding photos of Soleimani.
President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the crowd, pledging to counter what he described as efforts to sow discord among Muslims. “We will stand on the side of the truth. We will continue on the path of martyr Soleimani with strength and defeat these cowards,” he said.
Similar rallies took place in other cities, including Soleimani’s hometown of Kerman, according to state media.
A key figure in Iran
Soleimani was a central figure in Iran’s support for the “axis of resistance,” an alliance of Middle East militant groups opposing Israel and the United States. His death on January 3, 2020, ordered by then-President Donald Trump, was a significant blow to Tehran’s regional strategy.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei described Soleimani as a “commander of hearts” in a post on the social media platform X, saying, “Great commanders are not conquerors of known territories in geography, they are conquerors of hearts.”
Heavy losses for Iran’s allies
Iran’s regional influence has faced setbacks, including the collapse of its long-standing ally, the Assad regime in Syria, during a 2024 rebel offensive. In the same year, Hamas and Hezbollah suffered significant losses in conflicts with Israel, further straining the “axis of resistance” Soleimani had championed.
Deadly memorial service
Past commemorations for Soleimani have also been marked by tragedy. A memorial service in Kerman in January 2024 became the scene of Iran’s deadliest attack in decades when twin bombings, claimed by the Islamic State group, killed more than 90 people and injured hundreds.
Soleimani remains a revered figure in Iran, symbolizing the country’s regional ambitions and resistance to US policies in the Middle East.
With inputs from agencies