More than 60 people die in stampede at Qassim Soleimani's funeral as Iran warns of attack on Israel, Telegraph report.

During yesterday's funeral for Qassim Soleimani, the Iranian general killed by the US, at least 60 people died and 200 were injured in a stampede.

Tens of thousands had gathered as they prepared for his burial on a central square in Kerman, the commander's home town. Witnesses say that as the coffin passed, mourners were violently pushed back from the cortege, with crowds trampling on men, women, and children.

Video from the scene showed bodies covered in coats as paramedics worked on the wounded. Funeral processions in cities in Iraq and Iran over three days have been an unprecedented honour for Soleimani, who is viewed by many Iranians as a national hero for heading the Guard’s elite Quds Force. A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than a million people.

Speaking to those gathered yesterday, Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, vowed to avenge the killing. Soleimani was now more powerful in death than in life, he said.

“We will take revenge. We will set ablaze a place they like and they well know where it is,” he declared, prompting cries of “Death to Israel”.

Tehran has threatened revenge against the US and its allies since the American drone killed Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport last Friday.

Israel, a long-time regional foe of Iran, has drawn closer to the US under Donald Trump. But Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has been notably quiet since the attack, distancing himself from the US strike.

According to ministers who spoke to the Israeli press, Mr Netanyahu reportedly said: “The assassination of Soleimani isn’t an Israeli event but an American one. We were not involved.”

He added that Israel could not be drawn into the escalating conflict – anticipating an assault on the Palestinian territories by Hamas or on Lebanon by Hizbollah, Iran's proxy army.

The US and Israel have had sufficient intelligence on Soleimani’s movements over the years to target him but had decided against doing so.

Iran has medium and long-range missiles and regularly boasts that it can hit Israeli targets, including Ben Gurion International Airport.

Based on intelligence, the US has been watching for potential attacks specifically against US locations in Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The New York Times quoted sources that claimed Iranian forces – rather than its proxies – would retaliate.