Iranian General targeted on Trump orders: Pentagon

Iran (3rd Jan, 2020): Qassem Suleimani, head of Iran’s elite force, killed in US strike on Baghdad International Airport, including senior Iraqi Shia leaders, as confirmed by sources.

According to reports of Baaghi TV, the head of the elite Qurds Force has reportedly been confirmed dead as a result of the US strike on Baghdad airport. Qassem Suleimani has been confirmed dead by sources earlier on Friday, following the US drone strike ordered by recently impeached President, Donald Trump.

The news of the Irani commander’s demise was reportedly carried by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, who cited reference of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Reuters, spokesperson for Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), Ahmed al-Assadi has stated that, “the American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani”.

https://twitter.com/thestevennabil/status/1212927394035585029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-33023757963500036387.ampproject.net%2F1912201827130%2Fframe.html

Ali Khamenei, who is the Supreme Leader of Iran, has reportedly ordered three days of mourning as well as vowing “severe revenge” after the US President ordered the Baghdad airport strike as part of a “decisive defensive action”. According to reports, the White House has confirmed the strike that lead to the demise of the Iranian general in the early hours of Friday during an already bloody struggle between Washington and Tehran over influence in the region.

Moreover, Suleimani who was running Iranian military operations in Iraq and Syria, was targeted as he was being driven away from Baghdad International Airport by local allies from the PMU. Sources have confirmed that the deputy head of the PMU, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes, who was a close ally of the Iranian general has also been killed in the attack.

The Pentagon has issued a statement following the drone strike claiming that General Suleimani was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq” and has therefore been targeted with the aim to deter his “future Iranian attack plans”. The Pentagon spokesperson further added that the “United States will continue to take all necessary action”.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Javed Zarif, taking to Twitter has stated that the “act of international terrorism” by the United States is “extremely dangerous & a 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.

The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020

Qassem Suleimani is considered by many to be the second most powerful person in Iran, next to the Supreme Leader.

Reportedly, Suleimani’s death leaves Iraq and the surrounding region on the brink of a new upsurge in violence. The strike ordered by Trump comes at a time when the US Congress was in recess. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has also tweeted on the assassination of the Iranian general.

The justification for the assasination is to “deter future Iranian attacks”.

One reason we don’t generally assasinate foreign political officials is the belief that such action will get more, not less, Americans killed.

That should be our real, pressing and grave worry tonight.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 3, 2020

Chris Murphy has further posed a question against national motives of United States on Twitter arguing, “did America just assassinate, without any congressional authorization, the second most powerful person in Iran, knowingly setting off a potential massive regional war?”

Former Member of Parliament, George Galloway, argues that targeting Suleimani was a “blunder of incalculable scale” which may lead to an “ocean of blood”.

Dear @realDonaldTrump This was worse than a crime it was a blunder of incalculable scale. You’ve unleashed an ocean of blood, a tidal wave. It will drown many and much. Least importantly of all, you have just sunk your re-election to 40,000 leagues under the sea.#Iraq #Iran

— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) January 3, 2020

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more updates.