by Aram Mizraei for The Saker Blog
Huge crowds of Iraqi mourners join Gen. Soleimani’s Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis funeral procession
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis chanting “Death to America” have joined the funeral procession for Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi anti-terror forces chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad.
The terrorist attack on the two commanders seem to have united Iraqis from all sects and walks of life as former political rivals have set aside their differences to unite against the occupying Americans. As an example, the Sunni grand Mufti of Iraq has called on his forces to join with the Shia Iraqi brothers in violently removing the US forces from Iraq.
The presence of figures such as Sayyed Ahmad al-Safi and Hadi Al-Ameri, who are otherwise rivals, in the funeral procession is a message to Washington that the assassinations have unified the Iraqis more than ever against the US.
The same can be said when Moqtada Al-Sadr who us known to have been opposed to Iranian presence in Iraq, traveled to the home of Soleimani’s family in Kerman to offer his condolences.
Meanwhile, in Iran, the red flag was raised over the minaret of the Jamkaran Mosque in the holy city of Qom. It is the first time in history that the red flag has been raised over the minaret of Jamkaran. According to Shia tradition the red flag symbolizes blood spilled unjustly and is also a call for revenge.
Another thing worthy of notice is the visit of Qatar’s foreign minister to Iran in an attempt to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Unconfirmed reports on Twitter claim that the US asked Qatar to mediate with Iran over the retaliation to Washington’s terrorist attack. Deputy PM/ FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with his counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and offered a “nuclear deal” and lifting sanctions in exchange of no response.
It is also worth noticing that Qatar changed the color of its flag from red and white to black and white during the visit. A sign of solidarity with Iran perhaps?
Condemnations and vows for revenge continue to pour in from many parts of the region:
Lebanon: A high-ranking official with the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has strongly condemned the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. Speaking at a memorial ceremony held in Lebanon’s southern town of Doueir, Mohammad Raad slammed the “US’ cowardly crime” of targeting the top Iranian general, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis stressing that the act will not go unpunished.
“Whoever belongs to the axis of resistance commits himself to participating in the response, because the two martyrs represent every drop of blood that runs through our veins and every breath through which we live. Days are passing by and there is talk of a new war,” Raad, who is also the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc in the Lebanese parliament, pointed out.
Meanwhile, another Lebanese legislator described General Soleimani as a partner in every victory that the anti-Israeli resistance front, Lebanese nation and the peoples of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan have achieved.Speaking during a memorial ceremony held in the southern city of Yater, Hassan Fadlallah said the late Iranian commander’s role was noticeable in humiliation of US and Israeli occupation projects, and in the defeat of Takfiri terror groups like Daesh.
“America, the Israeli enemy and all their allies in the axis of evil are under the illusion that they could weaken this struggle if they killed a commander or a hero of this resistance axis. They do not know the truth of this culture to which we belong. A culture, under which, a combatant may get killed on the ground but emerges victorious in the end,” Fadlallah, who is also a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, highlighted.
He added, “Enemies can target a leader here and a hero there; but at the same time they must know that they cannot weaken or make the axis of resistance retreat. All past experiences have actually proven that the blood of such commanders will further the strength and firmness of the axis of resistance.”
Gaza: Islamic Jihad leader Ahmed al-Modallal said the top Iranian general directly supported the Palestinian resistance front, and he was in charge of providing logistical supplies to Palestinian resistance groups.
“The assassination of General Soleimani increases our determination and adherence to resistance in the face of forces of arrogance. (The Palestinian) resistance movement will stand committed to the blood of their martyrs,” Modallal added.
He then slammed attempts by certain Arab states to normalize diplomatic relations with the Israeli regime, stating that the United States aims to rob Arab and Muslim nations of their wealth and capabilities.
“It is shameful that several Arab countries have opened up their arms to embrace the axis of evil and have deployed troops to kill our people,” Modallal pointed out.
Separately, top Hamas official Ismail Radwan underlined that General Soleimani’s assassination will unite anti-US peoples to stand against the occupation of Arab and Muslim territories.
Yemen: The politburo of Ansarullah in a statement on Friday described the operation as a war crime by the White House against the entire Muslim Ummah, the anti-Israel axis of resistance and the Palestinian cause.
“Washington assumed it could get rid of General Soleimani by means of his targeted killing, but one can rest assured that his blood will chase Americans more than ever,” it said.
On Friday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi offered his sincere condolences over the martyrdom of the two distinguished Iranian and Iraqi military figures in US airstrikes, saying, “The freedom-loving Yemeni nation must know that the enemy targets anyone without exception in its pursuit to control all.”
“The enemy is fairly annoyed, and has resorted to targeted killing because the axis of resistance poses an obstruction for its plots and thwarts them,” Houthi pointed out.
In other places, massive protests have been held in Kashmir, in Afghanistan, in the occupied Gaza strip in solidarity with the martyred General. It seems that Soleimani is viewed as a champion for many of the oppressed people of the world.
Soleimani is respected by the Christians of Syria for his leadership in the fight against the western backed jihadi liver eaters. He will be remembered for his great contribution to the Eastern Alliance that is turning the tables on the West that still thinks it can plow and plunder the world.
If by his death the people of the region unite to push the US out then his greatest victories are yet to come.
He will be remembered and compared to Saladin.
@AriusArmenian
Good to see you on this forum as well.
Soleimani is a hero indeed for defending our Christian and Muslim brothers against the terrorist proxies of the Zionist regime. As a martyr, he will be remembered as the man who, like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sacrificed his body as kindling to burn down the throne of Satan and his people.
From colonnially occupied Colombia all i have to say is: never surrender! We will all fight to end inperialism where he stands.
If President Trump was killed while driving in a limo with the top down. Would you call that murder? suicide? or both?
Sulaimani was killed while headed to a funeral in Iraq, turned out to be his own. Does anyone really believe he didn’t know this?
I would call it murder.
As for General Soleimani, he clearly knew that he might be murdered at any time – but died willingly, sacrificing his own life for the good of his country and all Muslims.
Unlike craven Westerners, he believed in other values than his own life and the nejoyment of luxury.
You mean like Kennedy? So unless you are killed inside a bunker or tank its “suicide”? You must be a gringo…
Sure a gringo …
Following his logic, every one not willing to accept USA rule is a suicide in potential… I mean, can be “suicided” at USA’s will…
” You must be a gringo… ”
Please explain what you mean by that ?
If Trump was targeted and hit by a missile then yes, I would call it murder. You can feign ignorance all you want but this was murder pure and simple. I understand the outrage of many across the world. I am outraged myself. Trump is done as far as I am concerned. He authorized murder at the behest of his true masters.
Agreed.
He has joined the conga line of criminals representing the USA.
300,000,000 people controlled by a few thousand jews and their stooges.
What a pathetic country.
This moishele is really annoying, trying to diminish the stature of a hero of the resistance, the march to victory of the oppressed Eastern people is unstoppable
An extract from the text above:
“As an example, the Sunni grand Mufti of Iraq has called on his forces to join with the Shia Iraqi brothers in violently removing the US forces from Iraq.”
The assassination of a small group of Shia followers, one of them a PERSIAN (a very distinctive one), acting as a trigger to unite ARAB Shia and Sunni followers in Iraq!! What a fantastic blowback!!
Is there any news about Iraqi Parliament voting on ‘inviting’ US forces to leave?
“Mohammad Raad slammed the “US’ cowardly crime” of targeting the top Iranian general, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis…”
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was Iraqi. The Iranian general was Qassem Soleimani.
Sorry, it was supposed the be “the Iranian general and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis”. I wrote this in haste so forgive me for some of the typos.
Understood! And thanks for the article. I just wanted to avoid any misunderstanding. Think of me as a volunteer proofreader. 8-)
Mike pence said that soleimani helped 10 of the 12 terrorits who were involved in the 9/11 terroriist attack.
Wonderful. According to the official story there were 19 terrorists not 12.
Do we realise how false, manipulative and insane someone needs to be to say that?
Clarence
You said…”Do we realise how false, manipulative and insane someone needs to be to say that?”
Well, I certainly do. Pence is as dangerous and dumb as they come. As reckless and incompetent as Humpty Trumpty is, Pence would be multiples worse as POTUS.
Another complete lunatic Lindsey Graham has put his spoke in too. He wants all Iranian oil refineries taken out ASAP.
YCHMTSU
Col
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ip-TIYEAI&feature=emb_title
Given that Trump is both completely devoid of diplomacy and a geopolitical ignoramus I believe that he doesn’t have the foggiest notion of what the consequences will be of this latest senseless act of murder that he has just authorised.
He will find out soon enough.
This assassination has the potential to rank as a moment in history right up there with the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. In fact because of the strong possibility that this could escalate into Nuclear war this act could be even more destructive.
The Clown in Chief is in for a very rude awakening
Col
PS Of course if Pence was POTUS this would have happened well before now…same old same old…be very, very careful what you wish for in US politics…there is an endless line up of lunatics waiting in the wings.
Methinks Humpty Trumpty has just guaranteed his great fall with this latest act of insanity.
‘They’ won’t be able to put him back together again…of course, it goes without saying… ‘they’ don’t want to anyway.
The absolute moron has been goaded into this…he might as well have just fricken voluntarily jumped from the wall himself and been done with it. I have absolutely no sympathy for this dangerous clown whatsoever.
My only worry is which creature will be the next Lunatic in Chief. If it happens to be Pence we might as well all get ready and jump too.
Cheers
Col
Last heard, 8 of those 19 attackers survived 9/11.
The absurd story of Arabs who couldn’t fly or land a little Cessna yet faultlessly piloted huge airliners hundreds of miles into 3 buildings at 400+ knots— was total nonsense from the get-go (I initially gagged when one attacker’s intact passport was found beneath a foot of hot tower wreckage.
The just-released “Architects and Engineers” group sponsored 4-year study (Univ of Alaska Dept of Civil Engineering) re collapse of bldg 7 PROVES this was done via controlled demolition! (the report is lengthy but flawless).
Or as bldgs owner Lucky Larry Silverstein said—- “pull it”.
…Silverstein said: “pull it” –
That’s what George W bush said while holding out his finger. Maybe they were in cahoots?
After JFK’s assassination Truman wrote an article calling for the CIA to be dismantled or severely monitored. Alan Dulles went to see Truman before the article came out telling him not to publish it. Truman’s reply was a classic:
“You don’t scare me. I’m already old.”
At some point death is no longer a deterent. Having survived the Iran/Iraq war where over a million people died I don’t think death was a deterent to General Soleimani. He had already done the majority of the damage to the empire that he could do. Syria & Iraq have not fallen due to his actions combined with his engaging Russia’s help.
and what of Israel? It is they who encouraged Trump (who clearly didnt realise the significance of what he was doing) they who provided the Intel, they who provided the coordinates. What response to them?
Anonymous: I’m not totally dismissing the possibility Israel did it. The speed with which Trump and the US DoD admitted responsibility makes me suspicious they are covering for a rogue Israeli act, knowing all hell would break loose if it were found to be Israeli. And the mediation via Qatar is odd to say the least.
My sentiments exactly.
Its my feeling that Trump was blindsided by this but still took the rap so that Israel would not be attacked immediately which would have involved the US in a full on war.
He would obviously prefer that US boys and girls die in small numbers on a daily basis instead of the Zionists who have been a cancer in the middle east since Israel was created.
I concur!
May the spirits of the martyrs rest peacefully, and those who pick up the flag continue with the wisdom and strength of those fallen, and we should never forget that the fight for freedom for one is the fight for freedom for all
May God Bless!
My condolences and respect to people of Iran.
I am Orthodox Christian from Serbia and remember very well what US/NATO ( With Israeli decision-makers) did to us during the bombing-campaign 20years ago.
I had and still have a lot of respect for General Soleimani, he was like Che Guevara of middle east.
Tomorrow i will light the candle in the church for his soul ( and i am not the only one here in Serbia to do just that!).
Time is ticking for Israel/US/ISIS-Wahabi scum and with this cowardly act they have united Muslims Orthodox Christians ( contrary to their plans to provoke Muslim-Christian war as they have done in past).
”America, the Israeli enemy and all their allies in the axis of evil are under the illusion that they could weaken this struggle if they killed a commander or a hero of this resistance axis. They do not know the truth of this culture to which we belong. A culture, under which, a combatant may get killed on the ground but emerges victorious in the end.”
Amusingly, the Pindos ’boost morale’ by putting their despicable mercenaries in flag-draped coffins but, needless to say, that doesn’t help them understand the plain simple truth that the culture of martyrdom is based upon struggle against oppression and injustice. Peoples living in countries enslaved by Western imperialism know what oppression and injustice look like and, most notably, whom is to blame.
If Iran really wants to harm the US.And if Russia and China want to protect themselves, there is certainly one way to do so. Iran ,who is already being sanctioned to death,should announce they will no longer follow UN sanctions on North Korea. Let the oil spigots flow for North Korea.Russia and China have both been trying to lessen the UN sanctions against North Korea.But the US won’t let them. If Iran threw out the sanctions, that would give those countries cover to spur their own trade with Iran.And block in the UNSC any US attempt to punish Iran with more sanctions.There are a lot of trade items that NK and Iran could trade in. Even in the 1960’s NK used to send light bulbs and other small but needed products to Cuba among other countries.I don’t doubt that there are today products that Iran can’t get from the West or from Russia/China because of either sanctions or lack of foreign currency.They could buy through barter from NK.The trade would help both countries,and drive the US even more crazy.And if Iran did want to pursue nuclear weapons,NK is certainly the country to ask for help.And oil is a nice sweetener for making a deal.
The idea is good in principle, but in practice you have to ship the oil to Korea. The US would just intercept the tankers en route so it’s a non starter. They should rather pump oil to Russia for re-sale if that could be negotiated.
Two possibilities in my opinion.
a) The whole elite is just “as is” e.g. short-sighted, in need of stimulation of the power nerve etc.
b) The escalation following this premediated murder is anticipated and sought.
Imho “b” is the far more likely scenario. Basically everything on this planet screams: “Stop capitalism and exploitation of ressources.” If there would be peace people would quickly return to solve these problems and abolish the current system. In my opinion there is small but powerful elite which doesn’t want to give up their priviliges, but the only way they can do it right now is through continuous war.
As long as this elite holds sway over economy, information and opinion, there is NO chance that this state of affairs will change in the “western” part of the world.
Any kind of forceful change will result in WW3 and all the wllknown repercussions.
I am not optimistic about the future at all.
darkmoon,
I feel exactly the same way. I am frightened for what comes next. What a way to start a new decade.
darkmoon
I totally share your sentiments.
In the future and in the aftermath of ‘civilization’ having likely completely blown itself to smithereens, surely there will be a realization as to monumental turning point in this whole unfolding disaster. This event IMO was where US Congress moronically and illegally GAVE the MIC and its web of associates [the center of which was a cabal of thieving private banksters] the outright and total ownership of the FED.
It is very easy to rob a bank when you own it…even easier if there is no audit process….indeed every bit as easy as taking candy from a baby. Make no mistake about it, they took candy alright…trillions of dollars of the stuff and then promptly handed it out amongst themselves by the truckload.
Because the US$ subsequently became the dominant reserve world currency this gave the cabal and the country the ability to create almost unlimited debt. This allowed them to finance a perpetual worldwide killing spree with endless wars and to create and foster perpetual mayhem where ever they pleased…or more to the point anywhere on the globe that wasn’t totally and pathetically subservient to their agendas.
In effect, the US became a global terrorist state. It had access to almost unlimited finance conjured up out of thin air for its hugely destructive rampage. Just like any terrorist organization the most effective way to fight it is to cut off its funding…this has never been done. Furthermore anyone that even begins to tread this path is quickly eliminated… politically or literally in a pool of blood.
The only solution that I see in all of this horrendous mess is the total and inevitable collapse of the US empire. We witness this process right now. The US at the height of its imperial power was a dangerous beast…as it flounders and sinks it will be infinitely more savage and unpredictable.
There is every chance now with this latest Trump disaster that much of humanity will simply not survive the process.
Sadly
Col
I keep wondering what the moronic arch-Iranophob Greg Hunter’s reaction to this horrendous murder will be.
Odds on he will enthusiastically applaud it just as he applauded the tearing up of the JCPOA and every other one of Humpty Trumpty’s numerous fopars.
So far the silence is absolutely deafening!
Cheers
Col
Col
It’s worth bearing in mind the the Elites who control all our western governments are “international” and the destruction of the US and even Israel will probably be well planned stepping stones to their new world order.
I think China is the next home for the elites. It already has most of the characteristics of the “ideal society” where everything is monitored and everything is controlled by a few. Would you be very surprised if you discovered that the elites also control China?
The west, as we once knew it, is imploding before our eyes, how much longer can it last?
Brad
You could be right but I fancy they will remain very much international opportunists of no fixed abode.
Just me but I can’t really visualize how they could gain effective infiltration given the current Chinese political model.
In China treason is rewarded with the death penalty. In the west more often than not it is rewarded with immense riches. I simply don’t see how China could be fertile ground for their MO.
Cheers
Col
I just this minute watched a very alarming interview of Republican ‘strategist’ Adolfo Franco on Aljazeera in which he totally and enthusiastically endorsed Trump’s latest move. He is very much in the mould of fellow idiotic Republican Lindsey Graham and of course the late Arch-lunatic himself John McCain.
Hillary Mann-Levitt was also in on the discussion and whilst trying to make very reasoned and valid points was literally drowned out at every oportunity by this utterly cognitively dissonant lunatic.
The third guest was Andreas Krieg – Assistant professor in Defence Studies at King’s College London. He was about as much use in the interview as tits on a bull in challenging Adolf…ummm er oops…I mean’t Adolfo’s… verbal diarrhoea.
Warning, you will need considerable intestinal fortitude to be able to sit through this ignorant creature’s utter nonsense.
Cheers and good luck
Col
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2020/01/trump-gulf-war-200104182322012.html
Requiem aeternam dona ei Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace.
yandex translate … mod
Eternal rest grant to him o Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
They rest in peace.
It’s just a mafia. The whole top circle of the NATO-sphere of influence is completely corrupt. I am an east german and I know how this was applied in my country after the system change of 1990.
Basically almost any influential politician or person in charge of communications is targeted. They are scanned for weaknesses and corpses in the basement. They should also fulfill a criteria of “zeitgeist”, e.g. align with some of the current waves in society.
The base of power is money and influence, the means are the secret services, affiliated press and mercenaries. and of course in the end, the military.
There is imho no chance in western world to escape this tyranny, barring system change.
The Israelis carried out the assassination on their own.
Trump, like the obedient Zionist puppet that he is, took the rap to avoid a conflagration that would have ensued if the truth was known. Better that US boys and girls die than the chosen ones.
Grace Hopper. It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (9 December 1906 – 1 January 1992) was a U.S. Naval officer
I know the Americans have dumbed down their population with all the false propaganda but they have also dumbed down the rulers it seems. Where are the adults in the room over there?
The US seems to think it can flout long standing rules of civilised conduct because they think they are the global hegemony, which they no longer are. Iran does not usually act without calculation and they understand this is a declaration of war. They will choose a time and a place…..revenge is after all “a dish best eaten cold”.
I will not be surprised though if the US or Israel doesn’t create a black flag event. The US statement about retaliation is fashioned in exactly the same way as pre the Syrian nerve gas scam which gave the excuse to launch a lot of cruise missiles.
Hang your head in shame America, how far you have fallen since the “ich bin ein Berliner” days when we all loved you. Instead of standing up for western values you now exhibit all the low morality, lies, propaganda and actions of a Nazi state. The love is long gone.
The murder of General Solameini whether you love him or hate him, was a crime and a tacit admission by the US that he was running rings around them in the Middle East.
The worst of it all, is that many innocent people will almost certainly end up being the ‘collateral damage‘ because of this event. I pray that there are some grown ups in Iran who may find a way to keep the peace with dignity.
quanto a mim acho queforam os sionistas, Trump somente deu a cara
Yandex translation:
as for me, I think that the Zionists, Trump just gave his face.