Thousands of Iraqis join Baghdad funeral procession for slain commanders
January 4, 2020, 11:09 am

Thousands of Iraqis join Baghdad funeral procession for slain commanders

Mourners surround a car carrying the coffin of slain Iranian IRGC Commander Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Kadhimiya, Baghdad, on January 4, 2020. (Photo AFP)

Thousands of Iraqis joined the funeral procession Saturday for Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, both killed in a US airstrike.

Iraq's prime minister Adil Abdul Mahdi joined by Hadi al-Ameri, Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim and other pro-Iran figures were present in the large crowd accompanying the coffins, according to AFP.

Iraq's Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi joined the funeral procession for the slain commanders in Baghdad, Iraq. (Photo: Twitter)

The corpses were brought to Kadhimiya, a neighborhood in northern Baghdad, on the back of pick-up trucks in coffins shrouded in their national flags, AFP reported.

Mourners were photographed dressed in black and carried Iraqi flags as well as flags of the Iran-backed militia groups, who were loyal to Soleimani.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces hold a funeral for Soleimani and al-Muhandes, who were killed in an airstrike at Baghdad airport on January 4, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

Twitter user Alex Salvi shared a video showing mourners during the funeral procession carrying one of the coffins draped in an Iranian flag.

“Funeral procession for Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes and Qassem Soleimani have begun in Baghdad, with supporters frantically mourning the deceased leaders,” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/alexsalvinews/status/1213358768924180486

The bodies of the Iranians will be flown on Saturday to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning for Soleimani.

His funeral is to be held on Tuesday in his hometown of Kerman in central Iran where he will be buried, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Friday the assassination of Soleimani would double the motivation of the resistance against the United States and Israel, state television reported.

Khamenei also vowed “severe revenge” and that Soleimani’s work will continue.

source: Joanne Series

Coalition scales back Iraq operations for security reasons: US Britain warns nationals against travel to Iraq and Iran

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”