IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis along with 10 other people were killed in an attack by US forces in Baghdad on Friday morning, according to Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, Iran International news has reported.
The Pentagon confirmed Thursday night that the US had killed Soleimani in an airstrike inside Baghdad International Airport, along with al-Muhandis. The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces spokesperson claimed that Israel and the US are behind the attack.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Friday that a harsh revenge awaits the “criminals” who killed Soleimani and that the attack will double the motivation of the resistance against the US and Israel.
Khamenei called for three days of mourning in Iran for Soleimani.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday the assassination was, “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation.”
“The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Zarif later said that the killing of Soleimani will only strengthen the resistance in the region, according to Iranian State TV.
Reports that Lebanese Hezbollah deputy leader Naem Qasm was among those killed were unconfirmed Friday morning. His death was denied by a media outlet affiliated to the group, but an Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Syrian and Lebanese citizens had also been killed in the attack.
https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Four-rockets-land-on-Baghdad-airport-report-612947