IRGC: Iran will definitely retaliate over Soleimani

Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesman Gen. Ramezan Sharif vowed on Friday that Iran would definitely retaliate to US airstrike that killed country's top general, Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani, he of Iran's elite Quds Force, was killed along with senior Iraqi militants in a US airstrike near Baghd's international airport overnight.

" temporary happiness of Americans and Zionists will t last long and will soon turn into mourning," Sharif said during a live interview on state TV.

"Our determination to retaliate against criminal America and occupying Zionists is boosted and it will definitely happen," he said.

At end of interview Sharif could be seen weeping over Soleimani's death on air.

targeted killing of Soleimani could draw forceful Iranian retaliation against American interests in region and spiral into a far larger conflict between US and Iran, endangering US troops in Iraq, Syria and beyond.

Soleimani was considered architect of Iran's policy in Syria.

Defence 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 US Embassy in Baghd earlier this week.

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