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Iran threatens the WHITE HOUSE: Tehran ups the ante by promising a 'crushing and powerful retaliation' and a direct attack 'on American soil' after Trump threatened to strike 52 Iranian targets in response to their hit-list of 32
• Iranian MP Abolfazl Abutorabi threatened to attack White House during open session of parliament Sunday
• 'We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil,' Abutorabi said in session
• The body of Qassem Soleimani returned to Iran early Sunday to chants of 'Death to America'
• Top Iranian commander vows to 'put an end to the US presence in the region' with 'strategic revenge'
• Trump tweeted the threat on Saturday night to hit 52 targets representing victims of Iran hostage crisis
• It came in response to Tehran's threat to hit 35 American targets in the region including US ships
• Iranians raised the blood-red 'flags of revenge' over the minarets at the revered Jamkaran Mosque
• Iranian officials and Qassem Soleimani's supporters have vowed vengeance for his death in US strike
• A congressional staffer said the White House expects Iran to retaliate 'within weeks'
• Lebanon's Hezbollah has told Iraqi soldiers to stay away from U.S. military bases starting Sunday
• Thousands of U.S. paratroopers from the 82 Airborne Division continue to deploy to the Middle East
By VALERIE EDWARDS and KEITH GRIFFITH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 12:59, 5 January 2020 | UPDATED: 13:42, 5 January 2020

Iran has threatened to attack the White House in response to President Donald Trump's warning that any strike on American interests in the region will bring massive retaliation.

'We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil. We have the power, and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time,' said Iranian MP Abolfazl Abutorabi, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency.

Abutorabi went on to say that 'this is a declaration of war, which means if you hesitate you lose'.

'When someone declares war do you want to respond to the bullets with flowers? They will shoot you in the head,' he added.

Abutorabi's threat was made during an open session of parliament in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday, and just days after Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Tehran's overseas clandestine and military operations as head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was killed on Friday in a US drone strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport.

Following massive funeral marches in Iraq, Soleimani's body was flown to the city of Ahvaz in southwest Iran on Sunday.

Video from the scene shows a casket wrapped in an Iranian flag being unloaded from a plane as a military band plays and the crowd angrily chanted 'Death to America'.

On Saturday, Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami promised 'a strategic revenge which will definitely put an end to the US presence in the region'.

However, Trump threatened to hit 52 critical targets in Iran in retaliation if Tehran strikes any American interests in the region, upping the stakes after Iran said it had identified 35 targets for potential strikes and raised its red 'flags of revenge' over a key mosque.

'Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!' Trump tweeted on Saturday from Mar-a-Lago, after spending the day at his nearby golf course.

'Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters,' Trump said.

'He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years,' he continued.

Trump's threat referenced the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-1981, in which 52 US diplomats and citizens were held hostage by student revolutionaries in Iran.

His threat to target sites important to 'Iranian culture' drew many accusations from critics that he was threatening to commit 'war crimes'.

A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the list of US targets from DailyMail.com.

'They attacked us, & we hit back,' Trump said of the drone strike on Soleimani, which followed assaults on the US embassy in Baghdad by pro-Iranian militiamen.

'If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!' he said.

'The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way...and without hesitation!' he said.

The US military confirmed two rocket attacks near American facilities in Iraq on Saturday, saying that no US personnel or allies were injured. The attacks took place near the Green Zone in Baghdad and Balad Air Base in northern Iraq.

Earlier on Saturday, an Iranian official said at least 35 US targets, including warships and Tel Aviv, have been identified for retaliatory strikes.

Iranian General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, a Revolutionary Guards commander in the southern province of Kerman, said vital American targets in the region were identified a 'long time ago', including ships in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Tel Aviv.

'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there … some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,' he said, according to Reuters.

Hezbollah, an Islamic political and militant group, has also warned Iraqi soldiers to stay at least 1,000 meters away from US military bases from Sunday onwards.

Vowing vengeance for Soleimani's death, Iranians raised the blood-red 'flags of revenge' over the minarets at the revered Jamkaran Mosque in the holy city of Qom on Saturday.

A retaliation attack from Iran could be seen 'within weeks' either at home or abroad, a senior congressional staffer told Time.

The staffer said: 'There is no indication that there is going to be a de-escalation in the near future. The only question is how bad is the retaliation going to be and where and what is it going to hit.'

Abuhamzeh's concerning remarks that Iran has previously identified targets seems to confirm the State Department's reasoning behind the airstrike on Friday.

The State Department said: 'General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.'

'The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.'

Meanwhile, one of the Iranian-backed militia Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, warned Iraqi soldiers to vacate any premises near U.S. bases housing American soldiers in a thinly-veiled threat.

'The leaders of the security forces should protect their fighters and not allow them to become human shields to the occupying Crusaders,' the statement said, regarding coalition bases.

In a press conference after Friday's airstrike, Trump said Soleimani was plotting attacks against Americans in a press conference after the airstrike.

'Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him,' the president revealed in a press conference.

Although the specific locations of the 35 targets have not been disclosed, the US Embassy in Baghdad and the military base could be potential targets.

This comes off the heels of the slaying of an American contractor who was killed in a rocket attack a week ago while working at an Iraqi military base in the country's northern region.

The US retaliated by launching an attack on five Popular Mobilization militia bases in Iraq and Syria, killing more than 24 people and inciting a nearly two-day siege of the United States Embassy in Baghdad.

Following Soleimani's death, several Iranian officials and the 62-year-old's supporters vowed revenge on the US.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US made a 'grave mistake' in killing Soleimani and will supposedly suffer consequences for years to come.

Iran's President Rouhani issues chilling warning that the U.S made a 'grave mistake' and will face the consequences 'for years to come' after Soleimani's family asks for revenge
The President of Iran has issued a chilling warning that the U.S. made a 'grave mistake' by killing the leader of Iran's Quds force, Qassem Soleimani, in an airstrike and that it will face consequences for years to come.

In a visit to the notorious general's house on Saturday, one of Soleimani's daughter's asked President Hassan Rhouani for revenge.

'Who is going to avenge my father's blood?' she asked.

In response, he promised her that 'everyone will take revenge' and 'we will, we will avenge his blood , you don't worry.'

'The Americans did not realize what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come,' Rouhani said.

'This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation.'

Soleimani, 62, was killed in the early hours of Friday, local time, outside Baghdad's International Airport in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump.

Hours after the attack, Trump said that he ordered the killing of Soleimani to prevent war, adding that the commander was plotting 'imminent and sinister' attacks against Americans.

The general was the architect of Iran's shadow warfare and military expansion in the Middle East and was targeted specifically because he was actively developing plans to kill members of the U.S. military and diplomats in the region.

'We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war,' the president said in brief remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

Rouhani has said that Iran has the right to seek revenge, saying that that retaliation will come when the 'dirty hands of the US' are removed from the region indefinitely.

'Everyone is bereaved & grateful to your father. This gratitude is due to his great sincerity, since hearts are in God's hands. Without sincerity, [people's] hearts wouldn't have been with him like this. May God bestow His blessings on all of us,' he said, recounting the conversation in a tweet.

'You saw people in many cities come out in numbers, with devotion. Wait to see his funeral. These blessings are before us to see the value of martyrdom. What a blessing for Hajj Qasem. He achieved his dream.'

In a series of other tweets following the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the Trump administration as 'villainous' and condemned the airstrike.

'Hajj Qasem Soleimani had been exposed to martyrdom repeatedly, but in performing his duty & fighting for the cause of God, he didn't fear anyone or anything. He was martyred by the most villainous people, the US govt, & their pride in this crime is a distinguishing feature of him,' he wrote on Saturday.

He also warned Iran's 'enemies' that the Jihad of Resistance' supposed victory will be 'bitter.'

'The Americans did not realize what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come,' Rouhani said.

'This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation.'

Ayatolla Ali Khamenei visited the family on Friday and echoed similar sentiments against the Trump administration.

'Hajj Qasem Soleimani had been exposed to martyrdom repeatedly, but in performing his duty & fighting for the cause of God, he didn't fear anyone or anything. He was martyred by the most villainous people, the US govt, & their pride in this crime is a distinguishing feature of him,' he wrote on Saturday.

He also warned Iran's 'enemies' that the Jihad of Resistance' supposed victory will be 'bitter.'

He wrote: 'All friends—& enemies—know that Jihad of Resistance will continue with more motivation & definite victory awaits the fighters on this blessed path. The loss of our dear General is bitter. The continuing fight & ultimate victory will be more bitter for the murderers & criminals.'

During funeral processions for Soleimani, his supporters chanted 'No, No, America,' 'Death to America, death to Israel' and 'America is the Great Satan.'

Mohammed Fadl, a mourner dressed in black, said the funeral is an expression of loyalty to the slain leaders.

'It is a painful strike, but it will not shake us,' he said.

They chanted 'Death to America' and 'America is the Great Satan' as they walked beside the coffins of Soleimani, architect of Iran's global military strategy, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Kataeb Hezbollah chief, in Baghdad.

The pair had been riding in a two-vehicle convoy which was decimated by three missiles from an American MQ-9 Reaper Drone in the early hours of Friday outside Baghdad International Airport.

The strike - which also killed four more Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards and five members of Iraq's pro-Iran paramilitary network - infuriated Tehran, who vowed jihad on America.

Meanwhile Iraq, whose prime minister attended the funerals today, threatened to order the expulsion of all US troops from the country after what it called 'a brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty.'

President Donald Trump has said that he ordered the killing of Soleimani to prevent war, adding that the commander was plotting 'imminent and sinister' attacks against Americans.

Mourners in the Iraqi capital today carried posters of Soleimani and flags of Muhandis's Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah militia, which has committed brazen attacks against US bases in recent months, climaxing with a siege of the US embassy on Tuesday.

The procession began at the Imam Kadhim shrine in Baghdad, one of the most revered in Shia Islam before crowds headed south to a point near the Green Zone, the high-security district home to government offices and foreign embassies, including America's.

Meanwhile thousands of angry demonstrators stood outside the UN offices in Iran's capital, demanding retribution for the killing of Soleimani.

The head of Iran's elite Quds Force will be laid to rest Tuesday in his hometown of Kerman as part of three days of ceremonies across the country, the Revolutionary Guards said.

Yesterday Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited the 62-year-old father-of-five's family home and offered condolences after vowing 'jihad' on America for the drone strike.

It comes as Tehran's UN ambassador, who represents Iran's only diplomatic mission within the US, told CNN Friday that the airstrike was 'tantamount to opening a war against Iran.'

'The US has already started a war against Iran, not just an economic war but something beyond that by assassinating one of our top generals,' Ravanchi said. 'There will be harsh revenge... The response for a military action is a military action.'

Today mourners in the Iraqi capital, many of them in tears, chanted: 'No, No, America,' and 'Death to America, death to Israel.'

Mohammed Fadl, a mourner dressed in black, said the funeral is an expression of loyalty to the slain leaders.

'It is a painful strike, but it will not shake us,' he said.

Two helicopters hovered over the procession, which was attended by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and leaders of Iran-backed militias.

The remains will later be taken to the Shiite holy city of Najaf to the south, and the remains of the Guards will then be flown to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning.

Following the violent attacks on the embassy during marches for other militant 'martyrs' earlier this week, the U.S. is bracing for the possibility of another assault.

Some of the funeral processions were being held in areas close to the heavily-fortified 'Green Zone' and officials are extremely wary of masses of militia close to consular buildings.

Any attempt by Iran-backed militias to breach the embassy would 'run into a buzzsaw' of fire from U.S. defenders, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said earlier this week.

'We are very confident that the integrity of that embassy is strong and it is highly unlikely to be physically overrun by anyone,' Milley said at a Pentagon briefing.

A US defense official told AFP Saturday that America would scale back military operations in Iraq and devote manpower to defending its bases and troops.

'We will conduct limited anti-Islamic State group operations with our security partners where it mutually supports our force protection efforts,' the official said. 'We have increased security and defensive measures at Iraqi bases that host coalition troops.'

NATO announced Saturday it was suspending training missions in Iraq. The NATO mission in Iraq, which numbers in the hundreds, trains the country's security forces at the request of the Baghdad government to prevent the return of the Islamic State group.

As tensions soared across the region, there were reports overnight of an airstrike on a convoy of Iran-backed militiamen north of Baghdad.

Hours later, the Iraqi army denied any airstrike had taken place. The U.S.-led coalition also denied carrying out any airstrike.

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of mostly Iran-backed militias, and security officials had reported the airstrike in Taji, north of the capital. An Iraqi security official had said five people were killed and two vehicles were destroyed.

It was not immediately clear if another type of explosion had occurred.

At least two rockets were reported to have fired near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and three were fired at Balad Airbase housing US troops, about 50 miles north of the city.

After the rockets landed, security around the embassy's perimeter, located in the the green zone were rammed up in response.

Of the three missiles that fired from the airbase, two Katyusha rockets fell inside the base and it was not immediately clear how many U.S. troops are being housed inside.

A number of rockets also landed in the Al-Jadiriya neighborhood, according to the Iraq Army, although it is not clear if that was the intended target.

There have been no reports of injuries and it is not clear who fired the rockets.

At least two rockets landed near the embassy, which is located in the security-tight Green Zone.

It also reported that security at the embassy's perimeter was stepped up after the rockets fell. Earlier this week, pro-Iran protesters stormed the US embassy in a siege that lasted just over a day.

Another three rockets were fired at Balad Airbase housing American troops, about 50 miles north of the city, according to Reuters.

Of those, two Katyusha rockets fell inside the base. It's not clear how many US troops are being house at the base.

A number of rockets also landed in the Al-Jadiriya neighborhood, according to the Iraq Army, although it is not clear if that was the intended target.

There have been no reports of injuries and it is not clear who fired the rockets.

Iranians raise blood red 'flags of revenge' for General Qassem Soleimani's killing
Iranians raised the blood-red 'flags of revenge', vowing to retaliate after the US killed general Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in Baghdad.

Iranian state TV broadcast the flag being hoisted over the minarets at the revered Jamkaran Mosque in the holy city of Qom on Saturday.

In Shia Islam the red flags, which have also been flown at demonstrations in Tehran, symbolize blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge the person who is slain.

It comes as Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei and President Hassan Rouhani consoled Soleimani's distraught children at his family home last night, reassuring them the commander would be avenged.

As the flag was raised in Qom, the mosque speakers called, 'O Allah, hasten your custodian reappearance,' a reference to the end-times reappearance of the Mahdi.

In Shia Islam, the faith of Iran, the Mahdi is a divine figure who will appear to bring a Day of Judgement and rid the world of evil.

According to local reports it is the first time in the Qom mosque's history - a holy site since the Middle Ages - that the red flag has been raised over the building.

Last night Khamanei and Rouhani consoled Soleimani's family.

'Who is going to avenge my father's blood?' One of the commander's daughters asked.

In response, Rouhani promised her that 'everyone will take revenge' and assured her as she wept, 'we will, we will avenge his blood, you don't worry.'

'The Americans did not realize what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come,' Rouhani said.

'This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation.'

Soleimani, 62, was killed in the early hours of Friday, local time, outside Baghdad's International Airport in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump.

Hours after the attack, Trump said that he ordered the killing of Soleimani to prevent war, adding that the commander was plotting 'imminent and sinister' attacks against Americans.

The general was the architect of Iran's shadow warfare and military expansion in the Middle East and was targeted specifically because he was actively developing plans to kill members of the U.S. military and diplomats in the region.

Thousands of mourners took to the streets of Tehran on Saturday where the red flag was also seen fluttering before a downtown mosque in the Iranian capital.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, shouts of 'Death to America' filled the air as tens of thousands of people marched to mourn Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in the US strike.

A PMF-organised procession carrying the bodies of Soleimani, Muhandis and other Iraqis killed in the US strike took place in the city's heavily fortified Green Zone.

Mourners included many militiamen in uniform for whom Muhandis and Soleimani were heroes.

They carried portraits of both men and plastered them on walls and armoured personnel carriers in the procession.

In another unsettling event, Iran has unfurled a red flag, signifying revenge, on top of the Jamkaran Mosque, in Qom.

The U.S. has since ordered all citizens to leave Iraq and closed their Baghdad based embassy, where Iranian militiamen and supporters staged violent protests outside the building for two days.

Additionally, NATO has suspended training Iraqi security and armed forces in the region.

Spokesman Dylan White said: 'The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount.'

Several U.S. cities have also begun taking precautions against any potential attacks by bolstering security.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the NYPD will take steps to protect 'certain locations' from 'from any attempt by Iran or its terrorist allies to retaliate against America.'

'No one has to be reminded that New York City is the number one terror target in the United States. We're taking escalation in the Middle East seriously — and I have absolute faith in the NYPD to protect this city and keep every New Yorker safe,' he said in a tweet.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo added that the Department of Public Service has been in contact with all electric, telephone, water and natural gas utilities in New York in an effort to increase vigilance for cybersecurity and physical security.

The Los Angeles Police Department and Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C. have also announced mounting security.

The LAPD is in talks with law enforcement at all levels and say there is not credible threat as of now.

Bowser released a statement saying Metropolitan Police and Homeland Security were working to monitor evolving events.

'While there are no immediate threats to the District of Columbia, we remain vigilant and [Metropolitan Police Department] & [DC Emergency Management and Homeland Security] will remain in close contact with regional and federal partners to monitor evolving events — both at home and abroad,' she said.

Onos866:
Just that we may know
Iran vs US military capabilities: Budget Iran: $6 billion US: $716 billion
Troops Iran: 523,000 US: 1.3 million
Aircraft Iran: 509 US: 13,398
Navy vessels Iran: 398 US: 415
Nukes Iran: not known US: 6,185
Missile range Iran: 3,000 km US: Any place on Earth!

Onos866:
Just that we may know
Iran vs US military capabilities: Budget Iran: $6 billion US: $716 billion
Troops Iran: 523,000 US: 1.3 million
Aircraft Iran: 509 US: 13,398
Navy vessels Iran: 398 US: 415
Nukes Iran: not known US: 6,185
Missile range Iran: 3,000 km US: Any place on Earth!

OLAADEGBU:
Iran threatens the WHITE HOUSE: (Contd.)



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7853703/Iran-threatens-attack-White-House-crushing-powerful-retaliation.html?ico=pushly-notifcation-small

Onos866:
Just that we may know

Iran vs US military capabilities:
Budget
Iran: $6 billion
US: $716 billion

Troops
Iran: 523,000
US: 1.3 million

Aircraft
Iran: 509
US: 13,398

Navy vessels
Iran: 398
US: 415

Nukes
Iran: not known
US: 6,185

Missile range
Iran: 3,000 km
US: Any place on Earth!

Onos866:
Just that we may know

Iran vs US military capabilities:
Budget
Iran: $6 billion
US: $716 billion

Troops
Iran: 523,000
US: 1.3 million

Aircraft
Iran: 509
US: 13,398

Navy vessels
Iran: 398
US: 415

Nukes
Iran: not known
US: 6,185

Missile range
Iran: 3,000 km
US: Any place on Earth!