Iran Vows ‘Holy War’ After US Kills Iranian Commander In Baghdad

The United States of America has killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, in an air strike, at the Baghdad airport in Iraq.

This was disclosed in a recent statement from the Pentagon.

“At the direction of the president, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani.

“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,” the statement said.

The US Embassy in Iraq had been attacked by a crowd, which according to Donald Trump was sponsored by Iran but Tehran denied having a hand in the protests at the embassy.

Qassem Soleimani, who was the head of the elite Quds Force and central to Iran’s military influence in the Middle East, was murdered in an air raid alongside his adviser, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and other militias.

Reuters reports that Soleimani’s killing marks a dramatic escalation in the regional “shadow war” between Iran and the United States and its allies, principally Israel and Saudi Arabia, which could quickly ratchet up tit-for-tat attacks.

But Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to retaliate.

 “All enemies should know that the jihad of resistance will continue with a doubled motivation, and a definite victory awaits the fighters in the holy war,” he said.

On his part, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, called the attack an “act of international terrorism”.

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

In his reaction, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, termed the airstrike as an aggression on the nation as well as breach of its sovereignty.

Furthermore, the Speaker, US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said that the “airstrike risks provoking further dangerous escalation of violence. America – and the world – cannot afford to have tensions escalate to the point of no return.”

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Baghdad has urged all American citizens living or working in Iraq to depart as soon as possible following the tension.

“US citizens should depart via airline while possible, and failing that, to other countries via land,” the embassy said in a statement.