The commander of Iran’s Quds Force has been killed in a United States strike ordered by President Donald Trump and aimed at “deterring future of Iranian attacks”. US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, “in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Forces were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,” the Department of Defense said in a statement made on Friday afternoon. Following Soleimani’s death, Trump tweeted an image of the US flag without any further explanation. A pro-Iran mob this week also attacked the US embassy following deadly American air strikes.
The killing of Soleimani who is considered to be one of the most powerful Iranian men, is an audacious and unexpected move that marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran that can be traced back to Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran’s nuclear deal.
Qasem Soleimani was an Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and since 1998 commander of its Quds Forces, a division primarily responsible for extra territorial military and clandestine operations. Soleimani was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” according to the Pentagon, which cited the threat to US lives as justification for killing one of Iran’s top-ranking military officials.
He was instrumental in the spread of Iranian influence in the Middle East, which the United States and Tehran’s regional foes Saudi Arabia and Israel have struggled to keep in check. He survived several assassinations attempts against him by Western, Israeli and Arab agencies over the past two decades.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “The brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani… will undoubtedly make the tree of resistance in the region and the world more prosperous,” Zarif said in a statement. On Twitter he said the assassination of Soleimani was “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation.” “The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” he said in the post on twitter.
Former US Vice President Joe Biden said, “This is a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region… President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep our troops safe and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.”
Nikki Haley, Former US ambassador to UN tweeted:”Qassem Soleimani was an arch terrorist with American blood on his hands,” Haley said on Twitter. “His demise should be applauded by all who seek peace and justice. “Proud of President Trump for doing the strong and right thing.”
This is a great loss for Iran and may ignite tensions between the two nations. While some in the US are supporting this strategy of Trump, some are worried about the adverse outcomes it may lead to.
