Iranian Quds force leader killed by US forces

The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force has been assassinated.

According to international news sources, General Qasem Soleimani has been assassinated by the US forces in Iraq.

He was killed as per the instruction of the president, Pentagon explains.

Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister has declared the incident as “extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation.”

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The US’ act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.

The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020

US President Donald Trump had tweeted a photo of the American flag after the incident came out.

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pic.twitter.com/VXeKiVzpTf

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

Statement from Pentagon explained, “At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani.”

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“The 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.”

The incident had reported after news of the strike at Baghdad’s international airport. It was said that numerous people had died in the strike.

Given that the strike was carried out days after the US embassy in Baghdad was attacked by protesters and had resulted in clashes. General Qasem Suleimani had approved the attacks, according to Pentagon.

Iraq’s revolutionary Guards have confirmed that Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhadis was also assassinated in the incident.

Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani had been leading Iran’s Quds Force since 1998.