Trump ordered killing of top Iranian general Soleimani in Iraq: US department of defence
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The Baghdad international airport was hit by at least three rockets just after midnight on Friday.
The US Department of Defence said on Friday that US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.
"At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization," the US Department of defence said in a statement.
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"General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more," it said.
The Baghdad international airport was hit by at least three rockets just after midnight on Friday.
As soon as the reports of the attack became public, US President Trump tweeted an image of the US flag.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020
The Shiite Hashed network blamed the US for the attack while declaring that the deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, were killed in the US strike.
"He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27 – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel. General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week," the US Defence Department said.
Another footage shows the vehicles which were attacked, convoy carrying powerful head of #Iran’s Quds Force #IRGC Qassem #Soleimani and #Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi #AlMuhandis around #baghdadairport.
— Ehab Al Obaidy (@Ehab8Alobaidy) January 3, 2020
#Iraq pic.twitter.com/hprFwKI2A2
"This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world," the US department of defence said.
Iran's foreign minister Javed Zarif said it was "an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation."
The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020
The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.
"The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism," foreign minister Zarif said in a Twitter post. The country declared three days of national mourning after Soleimani's death.
Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi summoned an official from the Swiss embassy which represents the US to condemn the killing of Soleimani.
"Following the assassination of General Soleimani by US forces, the Swiss charge d'affaires was summoned and Iran's serious condemnation was conveyed to him," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
"He was told that this is a clear instance of America's state terrorism and America's regime will be fully responsible for its consequences," Mousavi added.