The United States has killed Iran’s top general in a strike at Baghdad’s international airport. The attack, which happened early on Friday, has escalated tensions between the two nations – in particular tensions within the Middle East.
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Iranian General Planned to Target American Diplomats and Service Members.
The targeted attack on General Qssem Soleimani, the leader of the Quds Force, could potentially draw retaliation against American interests in the Middle East. It has the potential to spiral into an even bigger conflict between the United States and Iran that would threaten American troops serving in Iraq and Syria, and those across the rest of the Middle East.
The United States Defense Department says that Solieimani was killed because he was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region”. The general is also suspected of masterminding the attacks on the United States Embassy in Baghdad that occurred earlier in the week.
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that the United States will face “harsh retaliation”.
Iranian state TV broadcasted a statement from Khamenei calling Soleimani “the international face of resistance.” The country declared that there would be three days of public mourning over the death of Soleimani.
Tensions Rise Following the Soleimani’s Death
An advisor to the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani warned President Trump that he would face retaliation from Tehran over the incident. “Trump through his gamble has dragged the US into the most dangerous situation in the region,” Hassameddin Ashena wrote on the Telegram social media app. “Whoever put his foot beyond the red line should be ready to face its consequences.”
When commenting on the attack, Iranian state television called the order to kill Soleimeni “The biggest miscalculation by the US,” adding that “The people of the region will no longer allow Americans to stay.”
Soleimeni wasn’t the only person killed in the airport strike. It also claimed the lives of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander for the Mobilization Forces, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq. According to Iraqi officials, five others were killed as well, including the PMF’s airport protocol officer Mohammad Reda.
Trump, who was spending time in Palm Springs, Florida, tweeted out a picture of the American flag.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020
It’s fair to say that the year has gotten off to a rough start for President Trump, who faces a Senate trial after being impeached by the House of Representatives and an election where he hopes to secure a second term. This attack could be a huge turning point for the Middle East and is a sign of a change in American policy towards Iran after a period of increased tensions.
Chain of Events That Led to the Airstrike
The cycle of events started with Tehran shooting down an American surveillance drone and seizing oil tankers. The United States also claims that Iran was responsible for several attacks on oil tankers, as well as an attack from September when the Saudi Arabian oil industry was hit so hard their oil production was halved.
Things could be traced back even further than that though. It could be argued that Trump started it all when he decided to withdraw the United States from the nuclear deal that Iran had worked out with various world powers. The deal was struck by his predecessor, former president Barack Obama.
The Day of the Drone Strike
The attack on the 62-year-old Soleimani was conducted by an American drone, according to US officials. The drone struck his vehicle on an access road near the airport in Baghdad.
A senior security official for Iraq said that the airstrike happened near the cargo area after Soleimani departed from his plane and got into a car with Al-Muhandis and the others. The plane was said to have arrived from Syria or Lebanon.
Two officials from the PMF said that the general’s body was ripped to pieces in the attack and added that they were unable to find the body of Al-Muhandis. The body of Soleimani was apparently identified by a ring that he was known for wearing.
The officials only talked to the media anonymously, saying that they were not authorized to provide official statements on what happened.
Congress Divided Over Approval of the Operation
Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic representative for Connecticut, said that Trump owes Congress a full explanation over the attack. “The present authorization for use of military force in no way cover starting a possible new war. This step could bring the most consequential military action in decades.” Blumenthal said of the incident.
Trump’s supporters and allies have been quick to praise what happened though. “To the Iranian government; if you want more, you will get more,” tweeted out Senator Lindsay Graham.
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