MONITORING (SW) – At the direction of the President Donald Trump, the U.S. military has killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, Pentagon said on Thursday.
It added Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. ‘General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more’, read the statement.
It added he had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months – including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel. General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week.
According to Pentagon, 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 our interests wherever they are around the world.
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, has declared 3 days of mourning. In a series of tweets, he has warned ‘‘severe revenge’ awaits the criminals who have stained their hands with his & the other martyrs’ blood last night’’.
ENDS
