Iranian Soldier Kills 5 Comrades in Military Barracks in Kerman

An Iranian soldier opened fire on fellow soldiers yesterday, Sunday, resulting in the deaths of five of them in the city of Kerman, located in the southeastern part of the country. This incident follows a bomb attack earlier this month that killed 94 people, according to Iranian state television. The state television reported that the shooting occurred when the soldier arrived at the soldiers’ dormitory and opened fire on the soldiers who were resting. It added that the motive for the attack was not immediately clear, and the suspected shooter, who has not been identified, is at large. Brigadier General Amir Gholamian, the commander of the Iranian army's regional ground forces, stated that the recruit fled the scene and is now being pursued, adding that the army has initiated an investigation into the incident. The report mentioned that the attack took place in Kerman, approximately 830 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tehran. Kerman previously experienced two explosions earlier this month that resulted in 94 fatalities and hundreds more injured during a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the killing of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in 2020. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack. It is worth noting that the mandatory military service in Iran lasts for 24 months for men aged 19 and above.