Tit-for-tat battle aggravates! US airstrike kills Iranian Gen Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad airport

Tehran, January 3: Gen Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, has been killed in an air strike at Baghdad's international airport on Friday. The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces.

 

 

 

“At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani. General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. 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,” said the US Department of Defense.

 

 

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, condemning the US attack said, “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.”

 

The PMF blamed the United States for an attack at Baghdad International Airport Friday. 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 Israel and American interests.

 

 

 

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said al-Muhandis had arrived to the airport in a convoy to receive Soleimani whose plane had arrived from either Lebanon or Syria. The airstrike occurred as soon as he descended from the plane to be greeted by al-Muhandis and his companions, killing them all.