US strike kills top Irani
GENERAL Qassim Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed in an air strike at Baghdad’s international airport yesterday.
The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iranbacked militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, or PMF.
Their deaths are a potential turning point in the Middle East and are expected to draw severe retaliation from Iran and the forces it backs in the Middle East against Israeli and American interests.
The PMF blamed the US for the attack at Baghdad International Airport yesterday. There was no immediate comment from the US or Iran.
A senior Iraqi politician and a high-level security official confirmed Soleimani and alMuhandis were among those killed in the attack.
Two militia leaders loyal to Iran also confirmed the deaths, including an official with the Kataeb Hezbollah, which was involved in the attack on the
US Embassy this week.
The official said alMuhandis had arrived at the airport in a convoy to receive Soleimani, whose plane had arrived from either Lebanon or Syria. The air strike occurred as he descended from the plane to be greeted by al-Muhandis and his companions, killing them all.
The senior politician said Soleimani’s body was identified by the ring he wore.
Soleimani has been rumoured dead several times.
Earlier yesterday, a PMF official said seven people were killed by a missile fired at Baghdad International Airport, blaming the US.
The official said the dead included its airport protocol officer, identifying him as Mohammed Reda.
Earlier, Iraq’s Security Media Cell said Katyusha rockets landed near the airport’s cargo hall, killing several people and setting two cars on fire. It was not clear who fired the weapons.