Thursday Briefing: A bombing in Iran

Officials blamed Israel and the U.S.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 4, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering a deadly blast in Iran and reactions to the killing of a Hamas leader. Plus: Eating to energize. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Kerman, Iran.  Mahdi Karbakhsh Ravari/Mehr News Agency, via Associated Press A bombing in Iran killed over 100 Two explosions at a memorial for Iran's former top general, Qassim Suleimani, killed at least 103 people and wounded an additional 211, according to Iranian officials, sowing fear in a country where domestic unrest and the prospect of a spiraling regional war have left many on edge. The attack came at a time of heightened anxiety in Iran and across the region. Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs that had been placed in bags in the city of Kerman exploded, as a procession of people made its way there to commemorate the fourth anniversary of General Suleimani's death. The architect of the axis of regional militias backed by Iran's hard-line government, he was killed in an American drone strike. The attack in Iran has led to finger-pointing, confusion and speculation after no group took responsibility. Officials in the government blamed the two countries that Tehran has long cast as archenemies, the U.S. and Israel. International intelligence experts and analysts said the attack bore the hallmarks of terrorist groups, not of Israel. First person: "I heard the explosion 25 meters away from me," a witness said. "On the ground, there were all women and children like withered flowers." Cleaning the site of an explosion that killed Saleh al-Arouri. Anwar Amro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images What a leader's death means for Hamas The killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a top Hamas leader, deprives the militant group of one of its most skilled tacticians. He helped route money and weapons to Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere in the Middle East and integrated the group more tightly into Iran's network of forces committed to fighting Israel, according to analysts. But it is not certain that his death, though a setback, will be a debilitating blow to the organization, which has rebuilt again and again after the assassinations of its leaders and has remained agile enough to plot the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel. Israel has not taken responsibility for his killing. His assassination also further internationalizes Israel's war against Hamas, significantly raising the stakes for countries that host Hamas officials and putting new pressures on the group that could, if sustained, transform it. Context: Israel's overwhelming offensive in Gaza has significantly weakened the military strength of Hamas there. Al-Arouri's position, as Hamas's de facto ambassador to Iran and Hezbollah, meant that he would have had an important role in the group's efforts to rebuild militarily with help from foreign backers. In Israel: The Supreme Court postponed the enactment of a law that makes it harder to remove a prime minister from office, a setback for Benjamin Netanyahu. A photograph released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service showing Ukrainian prisoners of war after a swap. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, via Reuters Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war Amid an escalating cycle of air assaults, Russia and Ukraine announced a mutual release of hundreds of prisoners of war, the biggest exchange between the two countries since the start of the conflict nearly two years ago. The deal was brokered by the United Arab Emirates, which has tried to cast itself as a neutral intermediary. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that 234 of its soldiers had returned from captivity, while President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on social media that 224 of his country's soldiers and six civilians had come back. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Ulet Ifansasti for The New York Times Gunung Padang, a partly excavated site in Indonesia, has become the center of a raging debate after a geologist claimed that it was the "world's oldest pyramid." Thousands of young doctors walked off the job in England, the latest crisis for the country's beleaguered National Health Service. A knife attack on South Korea's opposition leader this week comes amid a deepening political divide and increasingly extreme discourse in the country. From the U.S. Jordan Gale for The New York Times Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to keep him on Colorado's primary ballot. 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ARTS AND IDEAS Sean Dong How to eat for better energy The Times's Well desk is kicking off the year with the 6-Day Energy Challenge, which focuses on the elements in your life that can affect how energized you feel. The most recent entry focuses on food, with a simple task: Notice how the foods you eat make you feel. Two hours after a meal or a snack, jot down any sensations you're experiencing and rate your energy level. If the results have you wanting to make a change, Well has some ideas on tweaks you can make to your diet. For example: Fill your plate with foods rich in fiber, complex carbs and protein, which can slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream and help prevent fatigue. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: Simmer lentils with aromatic Thai spices. Read: 18 new books, coming this month. Watch: Revisit the best movies of 2023. Declutter: When using dating apps, experts suggest focusing on the connections that feel right. Listen: Take five minutes to fall in love with Strata-East Records. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. Tracy Bennett, the editor of Wordle, explains how she approaches her own guesses. You can reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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