Trump orders killing of IRGC chief; Iran calls act "foolish" & threatens retaliation

General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed by US air raid at Baghdad's international airport on Friday, along with six ors. White House and Pentagon confirmed death of Iran's powerful military head by saying that attack was directed by US President Donald Trump on January 3. To assert furr, US President posted a picture of country's flag on his Twitter account. 

"General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and wounding of thousands more," Department of Defense said.

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Iran's vows 'harsh retaliation' 

Citing a Revolutionary Guard statement, Iranian state television said Soleimani was “martyred” in an attack by U.S. helicopters near airport, without elaborating. Soon after, advisor to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, said that US must wait for "repercussions" for crossing "red line." strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq kwn as Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, officials said. On January 3, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei declared three days of mourning for Soleimani, and, threatened US saying "a harsh retaliation is waiting."

In strong condemnation, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called act, orchestrated by Trump, as 'international terrorism' and 'foolish escalation.' In a tweet, he said, " US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism." Javad Zarif said, " US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani— most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation. US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism." 

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death of General Soleimani and Iraq's pro-Hezbollah Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis marks a significant watershed in Middle Eastern policy and Iran-US relations. In past decade, under leadership of Soleimani, Iran conducted proxy wars across Middle East region in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and parts of Leban controlled by Hezbollah. He was instrumental in shaping Iran's influence in region, which was threatened by arch-foes -- West, Saudi Arabia, and Israeli. 

Donald Trump has time and again showed a willingness to end US military presence in area. "We’re getting out. Let someone else fight over this long blood-stained sand. job of our military is t to police world," he had declared back in 2019. However, with concerns of a bloody aftermath of this attack, killing of Suleimani is likely to be a climacteric moment for US in Middle East.

Soleimani's IRGC, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by Donald Trump in April last year, backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 civil war and to battle Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIS). Soleimani had been rumoured dead 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 Assad. Rumours circulated in vember 2015 that Soleimani was killed or seriously wounded leading forces loyal to Assad as y fought around Syria’s Aleppo.

attack came amid tensions with United States after a New Year’s Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. two-day embassy attack which ended Wednesday prompted President Donald Trump to order about 750 U.S. soldiers deployed to Middle East. However, tensions between US-Iran 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.

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(with AP inputs)