One Year Death Of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani: Thousands Of Citizens "Pilgrimage" To Baghdad Airport

JAKARTA - Thousands of people spilled onto the streets and marched towards Baghdad airport on Saturday night or early Sunday morning January 3, 2020. They did this to commemorate the one year death of Iranian Revolutionary Force General Qassem Soleimani and senior leader of Iraqi militia Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. , as a result of the attacks of the United States (US).

Soleimani's killing dramatically escalated tensions in the region. As a result of the attack that took place at Baghdad airport, the United States (US) and Iran were on the brink of war.

Citing France24, Monday 4 January, posters of the deceased adorn both sides of the road, which is lined with tents serving food and drink to those passing on the highway. The location of the bombing was transformed into a holy place bordered by red ropes, with a photo of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in the center. Meanwhile, shrapnel marks are still visible on the asphalt and walls in the area.

On January 3 last year, Soleimani reportedly arrived in Iraq from Beirut then was traveling in a convoy of vehicles leaving Baghdad Airport when a US drone attacked. The general was killed, along with the Iraqi militia leader.

The death of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force frontman caused great outrage and was described as a "blatant assault on Iraqi sovereignty." Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the attack an "act of international terrorism" and a "dangerous and stupid escalation."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed "strong retaliation." For several days after Soleimani's death, the portrait of the military leader graced the streets of Tehran. The masses raised signs demanding revenge. The possibility of Iran and the US going to war was obvious at that time.

The anniversary of Soleimani's death comes after the Iraqi military said that explosives experts with its naval forces managed to dismantle a mine found embedded in an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. No group has claimed responsibility for the placement of the limpet mine.

The announcement comes a day after Iraq confirmed a report by a private security firm that found mines stuck to the side of the tanker, which was chartered from the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company, known as SOMO, while refueling another ship. Reportedly at that time the Iraqi team was working to dismantle the mine.

Meanwhile, Iraq has not provided further details. But the two private security companies said the find was most likely a limpet mine at MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker.

A limpet mine is a type of marine mine that is mounted on the side of a ship, usually by a member of the diving special forces. If it explodes, it can significantly damage the ship. The findings come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US in the final days of President Donald Trump's administration.