Red illumination at Shia holy sites signals mourning and resistance as Tehran vows a decisive response
BAGHDAD: Several revered Shia shrines in Iraq were illuminated in red following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, a symbolic gesture widely associated with mourning and resistance.
According to regional media reports, the shrines had been lit with regular lights during the holy fasting period. After news of Khamenei’s reported death spread, the lights were switched off before being replaced with red illumination, a color that signifies sacrifice, grief and a call for justice in Shia tradition.
Iranian state media described his death as a “martyrdom,” saying he was targeted during coordinated attacks and killed in his office on Saturday. Authorities in Tehran announced a seven-day public holiday and declared 40 days of national mourning. Funeral ceremonies and official commemorations are expected nationwide.
In a strongly worded statement, Iran’s armed forces condemned the strike as a grave act of aggression and vowed a “full and decisive” response, warning that those responsible would face severe consequences.
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