US hit on military chief
Rocket kills key Iranian figure
US President Donald Trump yesterday directed the assassination of Iran’s most powerful military figure in a significant escalation in tensions between the nations that was expected to draw retaliation against America and its allies.
Revolutionary Guard chief General Qasem Soleimani, second in command to Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed alongside an Iraqi militia boss in a rocket strike near Baghdad International Airport.
“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” the Pentagon said.
“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.”
Experts described the strike, early yesterday local time, as potentially having more impact than the US killings of
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2006 and al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in 2011.
General Soleimani was a US-designated terrorist and for decades headed the shadowy Quds Force, Iran’s security operation likened to a cross between the CIA and Special Forces. His death came after days of tension in Baghdad, including attacks on the US Embassy this week that the Pentagon said he orchestrated.
Those aggressions, including a breach of the embassy perimeter on New Year’s Eve by protesters chanting “death to America”, spurred the deployment of an extra 750 US troops to maintain security.
That followed the murder of a US contractor late last month, which prompted US strikes that took out 25 members of the Kataeb Hezbollah militia on Sunday.
The Pentagon said the attack on a road outside the airport “was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans”.
Also killed was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraq-based Iranian militia force.
The strike was applauded by Trump supporters but drew stern warnings of potential reprisal from his detractors.
It marks another about-face from previous US policy, following the Trump administration’s withdrawal in May, 2018, from the Iran deal made by his predecessor Barack Obama and allies to limit the country’s nuclear production.
Mr Trump had campaigned on a tougher stance with Iran, which he said was flouting the terms of the agreement made in return for lifting sanctions.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper had earlier appeared to foreshadow the attack, saying “the game has changed”.
Mr Esper warned that Iranbacked Shi’ite militias in Iraq faced military strikes and accused the Iraq government of being complicit in the antiAmerican activities.