Qasem Soleimani: US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air strike

Soleimani commanded Iranian military operations in the region
Iran's most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, has been killed by a US air strike in Iraq, BBC reports.

The 62-year-old spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Iran's elite Quds Force.

He was killed at Baghdad airport, along with other Iran-backed militia figures, early on Friday in a strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

Soleimani's killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Under his leadership, Iran had bolstered Hezbollah in Lebanon and other pro-Iranian militant groups, expanded Iran's military presence in Iraq and Syria and orchestrated Syria's offensive against rebel groups in the country's long civil war.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack. He also announced three days of national mourning.

Live: Reaction and analysis as Iran vows 'revenge'
Why the US had Soleimani in its sights
Why kill Soleimani now and what happens next?
A brief history of US-Iran relations
Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind the Ayatollah Khamenei. His Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, reported directly to the ayatollah and he was hailed as a heroic national figure.

But the US has called the commander and the Quds Force terrorists and holds them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel.

President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the strike, tweeted an image of the American flag shortly after the news broke.

A statement from the Pentagon - the headquarters of the US Department of Defense - said Soleimani had been "developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region".

"This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," it added.

The Iran president say they will revenge on United States and it may lead to war.

READ MORE: https://thesmartcitizens.com/2020/01/03/qasem-soleimani-baghdad-air-strike-killing-of-commander-iran-president-tells-us-to-expect-revenge/

CREDIT: https://thesmartcitizens.com/2020/01/03/breaking-us-murder-top-iranian-commander-qasem-soleimani-in-baghdad-air-strike/

Lalasticlala seun mynd44 Dominique.

Front page post