Iran has vowed a 'crushing revenge' and 'jihad' on the United States after an American airstrike this morning killed Tehran's top general Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, at Baghdad International Airport.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proclaimed his country would avenge the bitter loss of his highest ranking general, while Lebanon's Tehran-backed Hezbollah said it would ramp up its terror 'with the blessing of his pure blood.'
The Pentagon said President Donald Trump had ordered the 'decisive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Soleimani' who was 'actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.'
Soleimani was among five people 'torn to shreds' by four missiles fired from an MQ-9 Reaper drone on two vehicles in the early hours of Friday. The commander was so badly maimed he could only be identified by the ruby ring he wore on his left hand.
The drone strike vaporized Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, which besieged the US embassy in Baghdad earlier this week. His body could not be recovered.
Soon after news of the strike spread, Trump, who is currently at Mar-a-Lago, tweeted an image of an American flag, offering no further remarks or explanation.
The US embassy told all Americans to 'leave Iraq immediately' where possible by airline and 'failing that, to other countries via land.'
Russia and China rebuked the US for the attack, Moscow warning it was 'an adventurist step that would lead to growing tensions' and Beijing urging that 'peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region should be preserved.'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed he had spoken to concerned leaders from China, Britain and Germany, while thanking his allies for their recognition 'of the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force.'
It comes as the Iraqi prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi warned the rocket strike would 'spark a devastating war in Iraq,' adding that the assault by the US was 'a brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty and blatant attack on the nation's dignity.'
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A massive funeral with thousands all dressed in black lined the streets of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani's hometown of Kerman in Iran today. The commander killed Friday in a US strike, was one of the most popular figures in Iran and seen as a deadly adversary by America and its allies
An American airstrike on Baghdad airport has killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's powerful Quds force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy-leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (pictured, the burning remains of a car that was among a convoy the men had been travelling in)
The death of Soleimani (left), a figure deeply ingrained in the Iranian regime who many had assumed would be the country's next leader, brings Iran and America to the brink of all-out war. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis had been instrumental in leading attacks on the US embassy (pictured right, outside the building)
House Minority leader Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy shared this image last night at the table with President Donald Trump (right), saying: 'A memorable and historic evening at The Winter White House. Proud of our President!' Dan Scavino, the White House Director of Social Media and Assistant to the President sits opposite McCarthy (back to camera)
As the sun rose over Baghdad airport, daylight revealed the twisted remains of one of the vehicles the men had been travelling in. In total, a US drone fired four missiles that struck a convoy of cars, killing the two men and their entourage
Images taken after sunup on Friday show the twisted wreckage left behind by the US missile strike on two cars
Four precision missiles fired from a U.S. drone struck the two cars carrying Soleimani and his entourage, according to U.S. officials. The cars were struck on an access road near the Baghdad airport in the early hours of Friday. Soleimani had reportedly just arrived to Baghdad on a flight from Syria. Airport logs show a Cham Wings flight arriving from Damascus at 12.34am Friday Baghdad time, but it's unclear whether Soleimani was on that commercial flight or a private charter.
Russia and China rebuked the US for the attack, Moscow warning it was 'an adventurist step that would lead to growing tensions' and Beijing urging that 'peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region should be preserved.' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed he had spoken to concerned leaders from China, Britain and Germany, while thanking his allies for their recognition 'of the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force'
Thousands of Iranian mourners dressed in black flooded the streets of Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, a revered commander, he was responsible for shaping Iranian foreign policy throughout the Middle East.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran to protest against the US 'crimes' chanting 'Death to America', torching the Stars and Stripes and holding up posters of the slain commander.
Khamenei proclaimed: 'All friends - & enemies - know that Jihad of Resistance will continue with more motivation & definite victory awaits the fighters on this blessed path. The loss of our dear General is bitter. The continuing fight & ultimate victory will be more bitter for the murderers & criminals.'
It comes as Iraqi Shia militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr ordered the reformation of the Mahdi Army which fought against US troops during the invasion in 2003. Sadr had disbanded the group in 2008.
The leader of Lebanon's Tehran-backed Hezbollah group Hassan Nasrallah announced: 'We will carry a flag on all battlefields and all fronts and we will step up the victories of the axis of resistance with the blessing of his pure blood.'
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami also paid tribute to Soleimani, vowing: 'A crushing revenge will be taken for Soleimani's unjust assassination.'
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for the strike, saying: 'Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks.'
Announcing his death during a live Iranian-state TV broadcast, a news presenter embraced army spokesman Ramezan Sharif and the pair wept together as they informed the Islamic Republic of Soleimani's death.
The US embassy in Baghdad said in a statement: 'Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, the US Embassy urges American citizens to heed the January 2020 Travel Advisory and depart Iraq immediately.
'US citizens should depart via airline while possible, and failing that, to other countries via land.'
The State Department added: 'Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. US citizens should not approach the Embassy.'
The attack unfolded in a precision strike on two cars that were carrying Soleimani and Iraq-based PMF militiamen who were picking him up from the airport.
Soleimani had arrived at the airport on a plane from either Syria or Lebanon around 12.30am when he was met on the tarmac by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.
Muhandis pulled up to the aircraft steps in two cars before Soleimani and Mohammed Ridha Jabri, public relations chief for the PMF who had been traveling with him, climbed inside and were driven away.
Moments later, as the cars passed through a cargo area headed for an access road leading out of the airport, the convoy was struck by four missiles fired by an MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Thousands of demonstrators on the streets of the Iranian capital after Friday prayers demonstrate against US 'crimes' in Iraq as they mourn the loss of the revered general Qassem Soleimani
Angry demonstrate torch US and British flags on the streets of Tehran today after the death of commander Soleimani
Iranians burn a US flag as tens of thousands flooded the streets of Tehran to mourn the death of Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) general and commander of the Quds Force Qassem Soleimani after Friday prayers
Tens of thousands of Iranian demonstrators flock in the streets of Tehran to protest American 'crimes' after the death of commander Soleimani
Furious protesters in Tehran torch Israeli and British flags after Friday prayers in the Iranian capital following the news of Soleimani's death
Both vehicles were instantly reduced to smoldering wrecks - killing Soleimani, Muhandis, Jabri and two others who have yet to be identified.
Two officials from the PMF said Soleimani's body was torn to pieces in the attack, while they did not find the body of al-Muhandis.
A senior politician said Soleimani's body was identified by the ring he wore. Photos from the scene show a hand with large ring that looks identical to one Soleimani is seen wearing in old photos.
Local militia commander Abu Muntathar al-Hussaini told Reuters: 'Haj Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were riding in one vehicle when it was struck by two successive guided missiles launched from an American helicopter while they were on their way from the arrivals hall on the road that leads out of Baghdad Airport.'
He said the second vehicle was carrying bodyguards from the PMF and was hit by one rocket.
Images which circulated online in the aftermath purported to show the body of Qassem Soleimani and other passengers, who were made up of pro-Iran Iraqi Shia militia riding in vehicles with the Iranian general
Images uploaded in the aftermath purported to show people rifling through the pockets of the dead commander Soleimani and showing off Iranian bank notes on his person, featuring the face of the revolutionary cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Iraqi anti-government protesters celebrate outside their protest tents in Baghdad's Tahrir Square following news of the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US strike on his convoy at Baghdad international airport
Jubilant anti-government protesters in Iraq celebrate Soleimani's death on Friday, they have been rallying against the country's executive for weeks over crushing economic conditions
While American forces did not make it clear how they had tracked Soleimani's location, he is thought to be kept under near-constant surveillance by US, Saudi and Israeli security forces.
The New York Times reported that Friday's attack drew upon a combination of highly classified information from informants, electronic intercepts, reconnaissance aircraft and other surveillance techniques.
The Defense Department said that the airstrike was justified to protect American lives.
'General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,' the Pentagon statement said.
The statement added that Soleimani 'orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months' including the embassy assault.
This afternoon, following Friday prayers thousands took to the streets of Tehran, with hundreds marching towards Khamenei's compound in central Tehran to convey their condolences.
'I am not a pro-regime person but I liked Soleimani. He was brave and he loved Iran, I am very sorry for our loss,' said housewife Mina Khosrozadeh in Tehran.
In Soleimani's hometown, Kerman, people wearing black gathered in front of his father's house, crying as they listened to a recitation of verses from the Koran.
'Heroes never die. It cannot be true. Qassem Soleimani will always be alive,' said Mohammad Reza Seraj, a high school teacher.
An Iranian TV presenter consoles the army spokesman Ramezan Sharif during a live broadcast to announce the death of the general this morning, a man who was revered and loved in his homeland
Shortly before he was killed in the strike, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted this photo of Muhandis helping to organise protests at the American embassy in Iraq
A senior politician said Soleimani's body was identified by the ring (above) he often wore
Source: dailymail
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