U.S. Air Strike Kills Iranian Quds Force General Soleimani

“At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action… killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.” A statement from the Department of Defense on the strike claims “General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members”. Additionally, the Iranian General “had orchestrated attacks… including the attack on December 27th – culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel.” He “also approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week.”

In response to the New Years Eve protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, President Trump had tweeted “Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities”; to which Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded “You can’t do anything.” Iran’s Supreme Leader added if “anyone threatens” Iran, “we will unhesitatingly confront & strike them.”