Soleimani, al-Muhandis coffins reach Karbala

Karbala (AP) – Thousands of mourners took part in a funeral procession in Karbala on Saturday for Iran's top general and Iraqi militant leers who were killed in a US airstrike a day earlier.

Foot showed arrival of draped coffins holding bodies of victims, including Iranian General Qassam Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces.

Soleimani, he of Iran's elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, was main target of attack, carried out near Baghd's international airport.

US President Donald Trump said Friday he ordered killing of Soleimani to stop a war, claiming that general posed a threat to American people.

attack has caused regional tensions to soar.