Thursday Briefing

A bombing in Iran killed over 100

Two explosions at a memorial for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, killed at least 103 people and wounded an additional 211, according to Iranian officials, sowing fear in a country where domestic unrest and the prospect of a spiraling regional war have left many on edge. The attack came at a time of heightened anxiety in Iran and across the region.

Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs that had been placed in bags in the city of Kerman exploded, as a procession of people made its way there to commemorate the fourth anniversary of General Suleimani’s death. The architect of the axis of regional militias backed by Iran’s hard-line government, he was killed in an American drone strike.

The attack in Iran has led to finger-pointing, confusion and speculation after no group took responsibility. Officials in the government blamed the two countries that Tehran has long cast as archenemies, the U.S. and Israel. International intelligence experts and analysts said the attack bore the hallmarks of terrorist groups, not of Israel.

First person: “I heard the explosion 25 meters away from me,” a witness said. “On the ground, there were all women and children like withered flowers.”