Iranian state television, citing Revolutionary Guard statement, says Gen. Qassem Soleimani — head of Iran's elite Quds Force — has been killed in Iraq, backing up reports from Iraqi officials.
FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, file photo, Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, attends an annual rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, in Tehran, Iran. Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials said Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, that Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, has been killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport.
There was no immediate comment from U.S. officials, and U.S. President Donald Trump was vacationing on his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, but sent out a tweet of an American flag. A senior Iraqi politician and a high-level security official confirmed to The Associated Press that Soleimani and al-Muhandis were among those killed in the attack shortly after midnight. Two militia leaders loyal to Iran also confirmed the deaths, including an official with the Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which was involved in the New Year’s Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
As the head of the Quds, or Jersualem, Force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Soleimani led all of its expeditionary forces. Quds Force members have deployed into Syria’s long war to support President Bashar Assad, as well as into Iraq in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a longtime foe of Tehran.
Earlier Friday, an official with the Popular Mobilization Forces said seven people were killed by a missile fired at Baghdad International Airport, blaming the United States.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US troops fire tear gas at pro-Iran protesters in IraqUS Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas as more crowds arrived and after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area.
Read more »
US troops fire tear gas at pro-Iran protesters in IraqBAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday as Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American Embassy in Baghdad for a second day set fire to the roof of a...
Read more »
US troops fire tear gas at pro-Iran protesters in IraqNight-vision footage shows U.S. Marines landing at the Baghdad embassy.
Read more »
Iran government played a direct role in instigating U.S. embassy protests in Iraq, intelligence officials sayTwo intelligence officials speaking to Newsweek said Iran helped to instigate the violent demonstrations in Iraq, where both Washington and Tehran's interference has been increasingly questioned.
Read more »
U.S. troops fire tear gas at pro-Iran protesters in IraqU.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day.
Read more »
Top Iran commander Qasem Soleimani killed in Baghdad raid - Iraqi state TVIranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed late on Thursday in an air strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.
Read more »