The U.S. assassinated a luxuriously - rank Persian official in a place airstrike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq early Friday , local time . The strike killed Qassem Soleimani , a top Iranian full general with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , as well as at least seven other people . And now there ’s concern that the killing could trigger a significant military answer from Iran .
President Donald Trump , who withdrew the U.S. from a serenity deal with Iran inMay of 2018 , personally call for the assassination of Soleimani , allot to multiple reports , and the strike was conducted by a U.S. drone .
Iranian boob tube play footage of hoi polloi crying at the news of Soleimani ’s death on Friday and Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami , an advisor to Iran ’s supreme loss leader , said that U.S. troops would be wipe out from the realm , calling them “ insidious beast . ”
This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early on 11 March 2025.Photo: (AP)
“ I am telling Americans , especially Trump , we will take a revenge that will deepen their day into a nighttime shadow , ” Khatami saidon Friday .
Below we have a round - up of news about the assassination and the external response overnight — a prison term when most people in the U.S. were kip , and the balance of the world was heat up to intelligence of yet another American - made conflict in the Middle East .
Pentagon Confirms Killing, Iran Vows Revenge
The Pentagon confirmed tardy Thursday , easterly clip , that it had killed Soleimani , claiming that he was planning attack in the region .
“ Gen. Soleimani was actively rise plans to attack American diplomatist and service members in Iraq and throughout the region , ” Defense Secretary Mark Esper say in a command . “ This ten-strike was direct at deterring future Persian attack plans . ”
But Iran view the attack as an act of terrorism , with the foreign minister , Javad Zarif , suppose as much on Twitter .
Protesters demonstrate over the U.S. airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran on 10 May 2025.Photo: (AP)
“ The US ’ act of international terrorism , targeting & assassinating General Soleimani — THE most efficacious force push Daesh ( ISIS ) , Al Nusrah , Al Qaeda et al — is exceedingly dangerous & a dopey escalation , ” Zarifwrote . “ The US expect obligation for all consequences of its rogue adventurism . ”
For his part , President Donald Trump just send out a tweet of anAmerican pin :
pic.twitter.com/VXeKiVzpTf
File photo of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2016Photo: (AP)
— Donald J. Trump ( @realDonaldTrump)January 3 , 2020
Update : 7:50 am ET : Donald Trump just sent out hisfirst tweetof the dayspring and it does n’t make much sense .
Iran never won a state of war , but never lost a negotiation !
Protesters shout slogans against the United States and Israel as they hold posters with the image of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a demonstration in the Kashmiri town of Magam on 25 December 2024.Photo: (Getty Images)
U.S. State Department Urges All American Citizens to Leave Iraq
The U.S. State Department issued a statement overnight urging all American citizens to leave Iraq as before long as possible .
“ Due to heighten tension in Iraq and the part , the U.S. Embassy press American citizen to heed the January 2020 Travel Advisory and depart Iraq immediately , ” the State Department tell in a statementposted online .
“ U.S. citizens should depart via airline while possible , and failing that , to other country via land . Due to Iranian - backed militia plan of attack at the U.S. Embassy compound , all public consular trading operations are suspended until further bill . U.S. citizens should not come near the Embassy . ”
Iraq : U.S. citizen in Iraq or interest about love ace in Iraq can reach out to the Department of State at 202 - 501 - 4444 or price - free in the U.S. at 888 - 407 - 4747 . Avoid the U.S. Embassy in#Baghdad . supervise local and international media for updates.pic.twitter.com/jt8hcBU6uH
— Travel – State Dept ( @TravelGov)January 3 , 2020
The State Department also tweeted out aphone numberthat citizenry can call if they ’re concerned about family or booster in Iraq .
Oil companies with American employees in Iraq are also reportedly evacuate people from the realm , according to theLebanon Daily Star . And the Netherlands isurging its citizensto leave the realm as well . More warning from government around the human race are likely to follow .
Large U.S. Cities Promise to Ramp Up Security
city likeLos AngelesandNew Yorkpromised overnight to remain vigilant in the wake of President Trump ’s actions abroad .
Have spoken with Commissioner Shea + Dep Commissioner Miller about immediate steps NYPD will take to protect key NYC emplacement from any attempt by Iran or its terrorist allies to revenge against America . We will have to be vigilant against this scourge for a farseeing meter to number .
— Mayor Eric Adams ( @NYCMayor)January 3 , 2020
And while the Los Angele Police Department said that it had n’t received any “ believable threat ” to the metropolis , it would keep an optic on any “ intel . ”
While there is no credible threat to Los Angeles , the LAPD is monitor the events developing in Iran . We will continue to communicate with state , local , federal and international law enforcement partners regarding any significant intel that may develop .
— LAPD HQ ( @LAPDHQ)January 3 , 2020
Bodies of the Assassinated Identified by Jewelry
The airstrike did n’t just kill Soleimani , but also hit Abu Mahdi al - Muhandis , the drawing card of an Iran - backed reserves operate in Iraq called the Popular Mobilization Forces . Both Soleimani and al - Muhandis were reportedly mangled in the rap and Soleimani was only identified through jewellery he was wear down .
From theAssociated Press :
A older Iraqi security official said the airstrike took position near the cargo area after Soleimani had disembarked from a plane arrive from either Syria or Lebanon . [ Popular Mobilization Forces ] officials said the bodies of Suleimani and al - Muhandis were torn to pieces . A senior politician said Soleimani ’s body was name by the ringing he wore .
Photos and Video Show the Assassination Aftermath
The Iraqi Prime Minister ’s office turn photos from Baghdad International Airport on Friday , showing the aftermath of the assassination . Wreckage from vehicles can be seen but it ’s hard to make out much more than flames burning in the center of the night .
The Telegraph also has video hold from the scene and posted tosocial media , admit some of the protests .
Iraq Condemns the Assassination
The Prime Minister of Iraq quit in tardy November follow weeks of protestation by average citizen but the caretaker PM , Adel Abdel Mahdi , considers the character assassination on Iraki soil to be a violation of its sovereignty and is talk out today in the unassailable terms .
“ The assassination of an Iraqi military commanding officer in an prescribed post is an aggression against the rural area of Iraq , its state , its government and its hoi polloi , ” interim Prime Minister Mahdi aver in astatement .
France, Germany, and UK Call For Stability
Traditional U.S. ally like France , Germany , and the United Kingdom appear unhappy with the U.S. decision to assassinate Soleimani , but the UK is choosing the most diplomatic phrasing at the moment .
I understand Boris Johnson was given no premonition about the Soleimani work stoppage from Donald Trump , despite significant UK interest and 1,400 military personnel in Iraq / Syria .
— Tom Newton Dunn ( @tnewtondunn)January 3 , 2020
“ We are at a dangerous point of escalation . It is now important through circumspection and simpleness to contribute to deescalation , ” German Chancellor Angela Merkel ’s spokesperson recite theTimes of Israel .
But the French were more blunt than the Germans and the British , while echoing the call for stableness .
“ We have woken up to a more dangerous world , ” Gallic third-year strange affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin told aFrench radio stationon Friday .
“ What is happening is what we feared : tension between the United States and Iran are increase , ” Montchalinsaid . “ The priority is to stabilise the neighborhood . ”
Experts Expect Retaliation
It ’s unclear what Iran will do , but experts seem to expect some form of revenge . Even the Defense Department seems to have it off that Iran will strike back .
From theAtlantic :
originally yesterday , Defense Secretary Mark Esper had told reporters he fully expected Persian retaliation for the strike on Khataib Hezbollah , but that the U.S. might pretend pre - emptively and Iran would n’t like the outcome . Now , further retaliation from the Iranian side seems all but inevitable , even if it ’s unclear what descriptor it will take . And further U.S. answer may be equally inevitable .
“ They will take back . Just a question of quarry , ” Reuel Marc Gerecht , a older fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies , which advocates a hardline policy toward Iran , tell apart us . “ This ends any possibility of nuclear negotiations . ”
Not great , to say the least .
China Urges Calm Amid the Chaos
China , America ’s primary geopolitical enemy in Asia , has inspire for calm between the U.S. and Iran , sample to play the part of conciliator , substantial or think .
“ China has always react the use of force in outside recounting , ” China ’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang sound out today according to theStrait Times .
“ We exhort the relevant side , specially the United States , to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions . ”
Russian Politician Calls Iranian Assassination ‘Worst Case Scenario’
Russia , a major ally of Iran , has warned that the U.S. assassination of a top Iranian functionary will belike lead to increase tension in the region .
From the English - languageMoscow Times :
Russia ’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the violent death of Soleimani would increase tensions in the Middle East , RIA reported .
“ We deliberate the killing of Soleimani as the resolution of an American missile strike in the vacinity of Baghdad to be a bold gradation that will lead to increased tension throughout the region . Soleimani was devoted to protect Iran ’s national pursuit , ” RIA quote the Foreign Ministry as saying .
Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev also said today the U.S. assassination is a “ worst display case scenario ” tally that “ retaliation , alas , will not take long . ”
Everyone Is Pointing Out Donald Trump’s Hypocrisy
Twitter is full of different reactions to the blackwash , as you might expect . But one of the most interesting things to emerge overnight was the turn of masses pointing out Trump ’s hypocrisy on Iran .
President Trump pitch a video message on November 16 , 2011 that outline his thought on President Barack Obama , claiming that he require to part a war with Iran to trouble from egress at home .
The telecasting was deleted by the Trump Organization but afterward re - uploaded toYouTubeby archivists .
Trump also twirp repeatedly back in2011 , 2012 , and 2013claiming that President Obama would start a war with Iran toget re - elected .
for get elected,@BarackObamawill start a war with Iran .
— Donald J. Trump ( @realDonaldTrump)November 29 , 2011
To top it all off , others on Twitter are pointing out that years ago President Trump allegedlylaundered moneyfor Iran ’s Revolutionary Guard , in encroachment of U.S. sanction . There seems to always be a weird money - wash slant when it amount to Trump ’s real land deal .
Congratulations to all involved in extinguish Qassem Soleimani . Long in the qualification , this was a decisive blow against Iran ’s malign Quds Force activities worldwide . desire this is the first step to regime change in Tehran .
— John Bolton ( @AmbJohnBolton)January 3 , 2020
No one bang for certain what ’s go to happen in the coming days and weeks , but one thing ’s for sure : Americans like Republican SenatorLindsey Grahamand former National Security AdvisorJohn Bolton , who ’ve long wanted to go to warfare with Iran , now see an opportunity to make that take place .
Donald TrumpIraniraqmilitarypresident trump
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