A massive funeral procession unfolded in Tehran on Saturday to honour dozens of high-ranking Iranian military officials killed in Israeli airstrikes during a 12-day conflict that has sharply heightened regional tensions. The ceremony began at Enghelab Square, where thousands of mourners gathered, dressed in black and waving national flags in solemn tribute.
Among the 60 individuals commemorated were some of Iran’s most senior military figures, including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, and IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami. Also laid to rest was Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC Aerospace Force. Their coffins, draped in Iranian flags, were carried through the streets in a route leading toward Azadi Square.
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Iranian state television and independent outlets aired emotional footage from the procession, showing crowds carrying portraits of the fallen leaders and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader declared the slain as “martyrs of the nation’s defence” and reaffirmed Iran’s pledge of retaliation.
This mass funeral marks one of the most significant losses of senior leadership in recent Iranian history and signals a volatile phase in the ongoing conflict. With both military and civilian figures among the dead, calls for retribution have intensified, raising concerns of broader regional escalation.
