US kills Iran’s most powerful general in Baghdad airstrike

United States killed Iran’s top general and architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in Middle East in an airstrike at Baghd’s international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in region.

targeted killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, he of Iran’s elite Quds Force, could draw forceful Iranian retaliation against American interests in region and spiral into a far larger conflict between U.S. and Iran, endangering U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and beyond.

Defense Department said it killed Soleimani because he “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout region.” It also accused Soleimani of approving attacks on U.S. Embassy in Baghd earlier this week.

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Iran warns of harsh retaliation

Iran’s Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a “harsh retaliation is waiting” for U.S. Iranian state TV carried a statement by Khamenei also calling Soleimani “ international face of resistance.” Khamenei declared three days of public mourning for general’s death.

Also, an viser to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned President Donald Trump of retaliation from Tehran. “Trump through his gamble has dragged U.S. into most dangerous situation in region,” Hessameddin Ashena wrote on social media app Telegram. “Whoever put his foot beyond red line should be rey to face its consequences.”

Iranian state television later in a commentary called Trump’s order to kill Soleimani “ biggest miscalculation by U.S.” in years since World War II. “ people of region will longer allow Americans to stay,” TV said.

airport strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq kwn as Popular Mobilization Forces, and five ors, including PMF’s airport protocol officer, Mohammed Reda, Iraqi officials said.

Trump was vacationing on his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, but sent out a tweet of an American flag.

dramatic attack comes at start of a year in which Trump faces both a Senate trial following his impeachment by U.S. House and a re-election campaign. It marks a potential turning point in Middle East and represents a drastic change for American policy toward Iran after months of tensions.

Tehran shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone and seized oil tankers. U.S. also blames Iran for a series of attacks targeting tankers, as well as a September assault on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry that temporarily halved its production.

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Tensions have increased since US withdrawal from JCPOA

tensions take root in Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw U.S. from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, struck under his predecessor, Barack Obama.

62-year-old Soleimani was target of Friday’s U.S. attack, which was conducted by an armed American drone, according to a U.S. official. His vehicle was struck on an access ro near Baghd airport. A senior Iraqi security official said airstrike took place near cargo area after Soleimani left his plane and joined al-Muhandis and ors in a car. official said plane h arrived from eir Leban or Syria.

Two officials from PMF said Suleimani’s body was torn to pieces in attack, while y did t find body of al-Muhandis. A senior politician said Soleimani’s body was identified by ring he wore. officials spoke on condition of anymity because y were t authorized to give official statements.

It’s unclear what legal authority U.S. relied on to carry out attack. American presidents claim bro authority to act without approval of Congress when U.S. personnel or interests are facing an imminent threat. Pentagon did t provide evidence to back up its assertion that Soleimani was planning new attacks against Americans.

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Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Trump owes a full explanation to Congress and American people. “ present authorizations for use of military force in way cover starting a possible new war. This step could bring most consequential military confrontation in deces,” Blumenthal said.

But Trump allies were quick to praise action. “To Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more,” tweeted South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

For Iran, killing represents more than just loss of a battlefield commander, but also a cultural icon who represented national pride and resilience while facing U.S. sanctions. While careful to avoid involving himself in politics, Soleimani’s profile rose sharply as U.S. and Israeli officials blamed him for Iranian proxy attacks abro.

While Iran’s conventional military has suffered under 40 years of American sanctions, Guard has built up a ballistic missile program. It also can strike asymmetrically in region through forces like Leban’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. U.S. long has blamed Iran for car bombings and kidnappings it never claimed.

As he of Quds, or Jerusalem, Force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Soleimani led all of its expeditionary forces and frequently shuttled between Iraq, Leban and Syria. Quds Force members have deployed into Syria’s long war to support President Bashar Ass, as well as into Iraq in wake of 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled dictator Sdam Hussein, a longtime foe of Tehran.

Soleimani rose to prominence by vising forces fighting Islamic State group in Iraq and in Syria on behalf of embattled Ass.

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'Soleimani taught militants to use roside bombs'

U.S. officials say Guard under Soleimani taught Iraqi militants how to manufacture and use especially dely roside bombs against U.S. troops after invasion of Iraq. Iran has denied that. Soleimani himself remains popular among many Iranians, who see him as a selfless hero fighting Iran’s enemies abro.

Soleimani h been rumoured de several times, including in a 2006 airplane crash that killed or military officials in rthwestern Iran and following a 2012 bombing in Damascus that killed top aides of Ass. Rumours circulated in vember 2015 that Soleimani was killed or seriously wounded leing forces loyal to Ass as y fought around Syria’s Aleppo.

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Airstrike comes after attack on US embassy

Soleimani’s killing follows New Year’s Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on U.S. Embassy in Baghd. two-day embassy attack, which ended Wednesday, prompted Trump to order about 750 U.S. soldiers deployed to Middle East.

It also prompted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to postpone his trip to Ukraine and four or countries “to continue monitoring ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure safety and security of Americans in Middle East,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Wednesday.

breach at embassy followed U.S. airstrikes Sunday that killed 25 fighters of Iran-backed militia in Iraq, Kataeb Hezbollah. U.S. military said strikes were in retaliation for last week’s killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that U.S. blamed on militia.

U.S. officials have suggested y were prepared to eng in furr retaliatory attacks in Iraq.

“ game has changed,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday, telling reporters that violent acts by Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq — including Dec. 27 rocket attack that killed one American — will be met with U.S. military force.