US President Donald Trump has authorized a US military strike near Baghdad's airport which resulted in the death of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, the Pentagon confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
“At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and interests wherever they are around the world.”

The Pentagon said that the assassination was a response to “attacks on coalition bases in Iraq,” accusing Soleimani of being the mastermind behind a recent spate of missile attacks on joint US and Iraqi military installations. In particular, the Pentagon blamed Soleimani for orchestrating the December 27 rocket strike at a US base in Kirkuk that killed one American contractor as well as “approving” the siege of the US embassy in Baghdad that almost ended up in the compound’s takeover by protesters furious over the US strikes that killed 25 members of Kataib Hezbollah, part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), over the weekend.
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Pentagon says Trump ‘directed’ assassination of Iran’s Quds Force chief Soleimani to ‘deter future Iranian attacks’

Pentagon says Trump ‘directed’ assassination of Iran’s Quds Force chief Soleimani to ‘deter future Iranian attacks’

US President Donald Trump has authorized a US military strike near Baghdad's airport which resulted in the death of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, the Pentagon confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
“At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and interests wherever they are around the world.”

The Pentagon said that the assassination was a response to “attacks on coalition bases in Iraq,” accusing Soleimani of being the mastermind behind a recent spate of missile attacks on joint US and Iraqi military installations. In particular, the Pentagon blamed Soleimani for orchestrating the December 27 rocket strike at a US base in Kirkuk that killed one American contractor as well as “approving” the siege of the US embassy in Baghdad that almost ended up in the compound’s takeover by protesters furious over the US strikes that killed 25 members of Kataib Hezbollah, part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), over the weekend.

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Pompeo blames ‘terrorists & Iranian proxies’ for attack on US Embassy in Baghdad as Tehran rebuffs accusations
Washington has pinned the blame for the attacks on its embassy in Baghdad squarely on Tehran, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accusing “terrorists” and “Iranian proxies” of instigating the unrest.

Tehran, meanwhile, has vehemently denied the accusations that it was somehow complicit in the storming of the US diplomatic quarters in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, taking aim at Washington’s “audacity” to blame it for the outrage sparked by American airstrikes.

The strikes, which the US military framed as a tit-for-tat response for the Kirkuk attack, drew ire not only from the Iran-backed Iraqi militias, but also from the authorities in Baghdad, which denounced the sorties as an "unacceptable vicious assault."

The protests saw scores of Iraqi Shia militia members swarming the area in front of the embassy, chanting “Death to America” and settling the entrance checkpoints on fire.

Earlier, the news of Soleimani’s demise was confirmed by the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps. The influential commander was killed when Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces’ convoy traveling near the Baghdad airport was targeted in a US missile strike on Thursday.

At least seven people were killed in the raid, including the deputy chief of the Popular Mobilization Forces

Trapping:
cc Mynd44, Ishilove, lalasticlala This needs to be on FP.

People things can get bad really quickly. I dont know how the Iranians are going to react over this news, but I pray Trump don't get to be dragged into war

jeffizy:
The US keeps bringing ants infested firewood home.

Well, they have the capacity to override any repercussions.

uninspired07:


?

BrotherJesu:
Lesson learnt; NEVER EVER TOUCH AN AMERICAN.

While back at home our Governmnt dont care who kills who;


....if the xenophobic attack in S.A was about Americans, i am sure that part of the world would have become history.

#NIGERiANLIVESMATTER

uninspired07:


Any which way, Donald Trump will win both the war & elections in November. The alternative cannot even be contemplated. America must never fall into the hands of democrats ever again.

Olominira:
More crises for Trump and an average American. This is unnecessary. Trump is committing a huge mistake by canceling the initial agreement reached with Iran.

Firstly, US can't even manage the ongoing crises she created in the past with Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya and others. Who's advising Trump? Crises in Libya is still a crisis in some parts of Europe. Germany already has millions of refugees from Syria. These are countries of smaller populations yet you seriously want to destabilize another country of 70-80 million people all at once.

The entire America with Europe would have a serious impact if Iran is set into crises. In fact, the entire world feel this impact because by the time 40 percent of oil output is cut off due to total blockage of Strait of Hormuz. The global market would respond immediately. This is not a wise choice. Even in Nigeria, a litre of petrol may go as far as N500

Trapping:



Thanks. You know exactly my worry. Tbh, if Iran decides to retaliate (which I guess they will) America will not find it easy.

I also pray that the democrats don't come close to power

Olominira:

War with Iran would have a global effect. This is coming at the time Russia, China and Iran plan to have a joint military drill. Did Trump actually think Iraq in Iran in 2020? War with Iran would likely be the last country US would ever invade in human history.

Trapping:


But I'm somehow happy that US took this action. For months now iran has been running gaga and abusing US. the ball now is in their court to prove their military might.

Trapping:


But I'm somehow happy that US took this action. For months now iran has been running gaga and abusing US. the ball now is in their court to prove their military might.

This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and interests wherever they are around the world.”

The protests saw scores of Iraqi Shia militia members swarming the area in front of the embassy, chanting “Death to America” and settling the entrance checkpoints on fire.

Trapping:
cc Mynd44, Ishilove, lalasticlala This needs to be on FP.

People things can get bad really quickly. I dont know how the Iranians are going to react over this news, but I pray Trump don't get to be dragged into war

Olominira:

War with Iran would have a global effect. This is coming at the time Russia, China and Iran plan to have a joint military drill. Did Trump actually think Iraq in Iran in 2020? War with Iran would likely be the last country US would ever invade in human history.