Iranian state television reported that a memorial was held for the “martyrs” who died in U.S. strikes on military bases in Syria. The memorial took place at the main cemetery in Tehran, the Iranian capital, and was attended by a small crowd. The fallen men were Afghans who were part of the Fatemiyoun Brigade, a force that originated during the Syrian civil war. The brigade, which is believed to be about 20,000 strong, is made up of Afghan refugees living in Iran and operates under the command of the Quds Force, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ overseas arm. Iranian media and social media platforms associated with the Fatemiyoun published the names and photographs of the slain Afghans, attributing their deaths to U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria. However, Iranian officials publicly denied any connection to the bases attacked in Iraq and Syria, and the Guards did not issue a statement acknowledging the deaths of the Afghans under their command. The bodies of the Afghans were repatriated to their families in at least four cities across Iran, where funeral processions were held. The coffins of the Afghans were draped in green cloth but bore no national flag. Mourners carried the yellow flag of the Fatemiyoun Brigade with its emblem, and local officials, clerics, and representatives from the Revolutionary Guards attended some of the funerals. The memorial was a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the sacrifices made by those involved in the Fatemiyoun Brigade.
2024-02-19 14:27:53
Source from www.nytimes.com