12 total killed in attack on Soleimani, Iran threatens revenge
“The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qasem Soleimani,” said Iraqi PMF spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS, OMRI NAHMIAS
IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis along with 10 other people were killed in an attack by US forces in Baghdad on Friday morning, according to Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, Iran International news has reported.
The Pentagon confirmed Thursday night that the US had killed Soleimani in an airstrike inside Baghdad International Airport, along with al-Muhandis. The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces spokesperson claimed that Israel and the US are behind the attack.
“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 Pentagon’s statement read.
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) January 3, 2020
“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” the statement continued. “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.”
According to the statement, Soleimani had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – “including the attack on December 27th – 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 Pentagon added.
“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 embassy in Baghdad is urging American citizens to leave Iraq immediately.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted a video of Iraqi citizens celebrating Soleimani’s death by dancing in the streets.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020
Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced late Thursday night that three katyusha rockets had targeted Baghdad Airport.
Two militia sources said the two guests were also killed in the attack but declined to identify them. It was assumed, later confirmed, that Soleimani was one of them.
Iraqi state media reported that Soleimani and al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the PMF, were both killed in the attack.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) later confirmed that Soleimani was killed, saying that “honored supreme commander of Islam Soleimani was martyred.”
Shi’ite PMF said in a post on Facebook that its director of public relations was killed in what it described as “cowardly U.S. bombing.”
Iraqi PMF spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi blamed “Americans and Israelis” for being behind the attack.
“The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qasem Soleimani,” said Assadi.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Friday that a harsh revenge awaits the “criminals” who killed Soleimani and that the attack will double the motivation of the resistance against the US and Israel.
Khamenei called for three days of mourning in Iran for Soleimani.
The Supreme Leader took part in a meeting of Iran’s National Security Council for the first time since becoming Supreme Leader, according to Al Manar.
Former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaee tweeted in response to the attack that “vigorous revenge against America” will be pursued following the death of Suleimani.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday the assassination was, “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation.”
“The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Zarif later said that the killing of Soleimani will only strengthen the resistance in the region, according to Iranian State TV.
Supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups stormed the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday following US air raids on Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah militia bases in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a US contractor in northern Iraq last week.
Tension between the United States and Iran has ramped up in the region over US economic sanctions hurting the Iranian economy. The two sides have traded blame over attacks on oil installations, militia arms depots as well as military bases hosting US forces.
Currently pending DNA results have a “high probability” of identifying the two men as the targets, Newsweek reported.
Reports that Lebanese Hezbollah deputy leader Naem Qasm was among those killed were unconfirmed Friday morning. His death was denied by a media outlet affiliated to the group, but an Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Syrian and Lebanese citizens had also been killed in the attack.
Soleimani, who has led the foreign arm of the Revolutionary Guards and has had a key role in fighting in Syria and Iraq, acquired celebrity status at home and abroad.
He was instrumental in the spread of Iranian influence in the Middle East, which the United States and Tehran’s regional foes Saudi Arabia and Israel have struggled to keep in check.
He survived several assassination attempts against him by Western, Israeli and Arab agencies over the past two decades.
Soleimani’s Quds Force, tasked with carrying out operations beyond Iran’s borders, shored up support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when he looked close to defeat in the civil war raging since 2011 and also helped militiamen defeat Islamic State in Iraq.
Soleimani became head of the Quds Force in 1998, a position in which he kept a low profile for years while he strengthened Iran’s ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and Shi’ite militia groups in Iraq.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Four-rockets-land-on-Baghdad-airport-report-612947.
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