TEHRAN - The chief commander of the Iranian Army on Tuesday condemned a terrorist attack on the southeastern city of Kerman as a cowardly act aiming to make up for the humiliating losses of the Israeli regime in Gaza. 

"The illegitimate Zionist regime, with the support of the U.S. and other Western countries, is seeking revenge for its heavy and historical defeat against Hamas by killing unarmed and defenseless children, women, and non-combatants. However, nothing will compensate for its egregious defeat, and the passing of these victims will only hasten the downfall of the Zionist apartheid regime," Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi told Iranian media.

Twin explosions ripped through Kerman on January 3, as thousands of people were walking towards the burial site of late anti-terror icon Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, to commemorate his 4th martyrdom anniversary. At least 93 people were killed during the blasts which were caused by suicide bombers, and dozens more were injured. 

Iran’s army chief said the tragic attack in Kerman was a “cowardly act by those who lack the ability to fight on the battlefield and resort to massacring unarmed individuals".

The Daesh terror group claimed responsibility for the attack, while several Iranian officials have hinted towards an Israeli hand in the explosions. Remarks by Mossad-affiliated social media accounts who rejoiced at the loss of lives shortly after the attack took place seemed to confirm Israel’s complicity. Iranian intelligence forces have so far arrested at least 23 suspects and seized dozens of weapons and explosives from the detainees. 

Iran has vowed severe revenge for the terrorist attack which became the deadliest one in the past 3 decades, saying it reserves the right to respond to the perpetrators of the tragedy whenever and wherever it sees fit. 

Israel seems to be trying to escalate its unsuccessful campaign in Gaza and turn it into a regional war as it seeks Washington’s direct involvement in its fight against resistance forces. The regime has in the past weeks, assassinated a top Iranian military advisor in Syria, killed a Hamas leader in Beirut, and struck a senior Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon. Analysts believe Israel has little chance of defeating Hamas in Gaza, and hence is looking for ways to provoke Iran and its allies into starting a wider war with international reverberations.

The regime’s latest wave of brutal onslaughts against the besieged Gaza Strip, which began after a successful Hamas operation in the occupied territories on October 7, has so far killed more than 23,000 civilians and exposed a quarter of Gaza’s population to famine. Also, over 90% of the people in Gaza have been displaced and the majority of the infrastructure has been destroyed.