Iran has raised a red flag over the Jamkaran Mosque in Qom in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli airstrike.
The red flag, a symbol of retribution, was displayed after Iran accused Israel of assassinating Haniyeh while he was in the country for President Masoud Pezeshkian’s inauguration.
Traditionally, this flag is raised during Muharram to honor martyrs, and its appearance over the mosque emphasises Iran’s pledge for revenge.
This move follows the release of images and videos showing Haniyeh meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shortly before his death.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has condemned the assassination, calling it “criminal and cowardly.” They have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh to divert attention from its failing campaign in Gaza, where Israeli forces have struggled despite their advanced weaponry.
Haniyeh’s funeral will be held in Tehran before his body is transported to Doha, Qatar, for burial.
The attack reportedly took place at Haniyeh’s residence in northern Tehran, resulting in his death and that of several associates.
The red flag, bearing the inscription “Ya la-tharat al-Hussein” (“O avengers of Hussein”), symbolises the pursuit of justice, inspired by the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH], in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Its display in Qom, a major religious and educational center in Iran, underscores the country’s commitment to seeking vengeance for Haniyeh’s death.
