A U.S. drone strike near the Baghdad International Airport has reportedly killed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, the leader of the Hezbollah Brigades and deputy leader of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Soleimani and Muhandis were terror and insurgency masterminds who were revered in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and beyond for their support of the Iranian-backed Shia militias and terrorist groups that have destabilized several countries in the Middle East.
Anyone who says that taking out a designated terrorist actively plotting to kill Americans while in Iraq is somehow illegal has no idea what they are talking about and should be completely dismissed as serious commentators.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) January 3, 2020
The impact of the killing of Soleimani and Muhandis is yet to be fully understood. Both men were wildly popular among the anti-U.S. Shiite militias and had extensive ties with Iraqi politicians and military leaders and units. The U.S. currently has more than 5,000 troops in a number of bases throughout the country and its embassy in Baghdad was attacked days ago for a lesser offense.
The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed the drone strike, adding that Soleimani was indeed the target. The Pentagon’s statement also states that Soleimani “approved the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.”
Other outlets, including Iranian state media and the PMF itself, and many others belonging to Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” have reported the two figures are dead.
Fars News, Iran’s semi-official outlet affiliated with the IRGC, confirmed the news saying that “Soleimani and Muhandis were killed by an American strike today after a long-day of mourning.” The two were reportedly attending a funeral for killed Hezbollah Brigades fighters.
On its official Twitter page, the PMF has confirmed the death of both Muhandis and Soleimani, adding that they were “killed by a U.S. airstrike on the road from the Baghdad airport.”
Iraq’s state television channel has also confirmed the deaths of the two commanders, which has been republished from outlets ranging from Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya to the pro-Hezbollah outlet Al Mayadeen.
Al Manar, Lebanese Hezbollah’s official TV station, republished on its Telegram channel that “Iraqi media sources: Martyrdom of the deputy head of the Hashd Shaabi [PMFs] Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and commander of the Qods Force, Qassem Soleimani.”
These reports come after U.S. airstrikes on the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades, one of Iran’s main proxy groups in the country. Those airstrikes were in response to the death of one U.S. contractor in a rocket barrage on a U.S. base in the Kirkuk region.
In response to the airstrikes, the Brigades threatened retaliation which came in the form of its men, and members of other allied Iranian-backed militias, attacking the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
Key Iranian terror and insurgency masterminds
Soleimani and Muhandis have had a close relationship that has spanned well over a decade. Over the past five years, the two have played key roles in defeating the Islamic State inside Iraq as well as in Syria.
Soleimani and Muhandis organized the Popular Mobilization Forces, the groups of militias that are dominated by the Iranian-backed terror groups, and directed their offensives across central, northern, and western Iraq. Muhadis served as the deputy commander of the PMF. The two have been photographed numerous times while visiting the militias.
Before teaming up to battle the Islamic State, the two worked closely along with other IRGC and Qods Force officers to organize Shiite militias to attack U.S. troops during the occupation of Iraq from 2003 to 2011. More than 600 U.S. soldiers are thought to have been killed by the Shiite terror groups that were backed by the two men before America withdrew from Iraq in late 2011.
As head of the Qods Force, Soleimani has been behind some of the most egregious attacks and plots against the U.S., Israel, Iraq, and a host of other western and Middle Eastern countries over the past three decades. Soleimani’s stamp is seen on insurgencies in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, and even in Afghanistan. His Iranian-backed militias played a key role in defeating the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.
Muhandis has been on the U.S. military and intelligence services’ radar for well over a decade. The Treasury Department designated Muhandis and the Hezbollah Brigades under Executive Order 13438 (Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq) on July 2, 2009. That same day, the Department of State also designated the Hezbollah Brigades as a terrorist entity under Executive Order 13224. Muhandis commands the Hezbollah Brigades.
So, why would the head of Iran’s military be attending (against US resolution) the funeral of some random insurgent in Iraq? They as much as confirm Iran is behind the insurgency, violence and terrorism carried out in Iraq. So, good riddance, scumbag.
Of course Iran will try to retaliate. That’s what terrorists do. They cannot accept that they are criminals and can’t accept that the US has as much a right to kill them as they believe they have to kill Americans. Much like the attitude our Democrats take in regards to following laws.
Yet there are those among our own citizens who are sympathetic to these terrorists because they hate our President so viscerally. And they call Trump a traitor.
January 3, 2020 – Live updates: Trump says Iranian military leader was killed by drone strike ‘to stop a war,’ warns Iran not to retaliate
Liar. This was a deliberate escalation. Anyone with a brain knows Iran will have to retaliate. We’ve just deliberately taken a giant step toward a potentially disastrous regional war. Do you think flag-covered coffins are patriotic? Do you realize we’re already running a million-million-dollar per year deficit? Do you think Putin and Kim Jong-un won’t take advantage of our distraction? Wasn’t Trump the guy who claimed Obama would stir up a war with Iran to assure his reelection to a second term, and who more recently claimed he was going to get the U.S. out of pointless wars in the Middle East?
January 3, 2020 – US drone strike against top Iranian commander threatens spiral of violence in Middle East
@Greg: Soleimani was (WAS) a terrorist. Terrorists should expect to be killed. Anyone that kills Americans should expect to be killed. Explain when consideration, compromise or reason has worked with Islamic terrorists?
If you want to side with the terrorists, go move in with them. Frankly, it makes me want to vomit.
@Greg: Just cut and paste MSM, repeat leftist opinion talking heads.
BORING
We do not know why the known terrorist was out of his country, I dont think it was for peace.
I like the tactic to take him out before he could use children or women as shields as these cowards like to do.
We did him a great favor he got to die a martyr.
I know the left are so great at foreign policy and plannng, can you tell us of all the successes of Barry and Stinky? Ukrain coup, Libya coup, Isis caliphate, China military build up, just to name a few. Barrys plan to wipeout christians , buddist, hindi , jews and Sunni sects is coming to an end.
@Deplorable Me, #4:
One nation’s terrorist is another nation’s patriot. Qasem Soleimani was a General in the military forces of a sovereign nation with which we were not at war. He was also the key military strategist behind many defeats of ISIS in Iraq—all of which has now been conveniently forgotten. He was more soldier than terrorist. He was also fighting his battles in his own corner of the world, which is more than any of our own generals can say.
We’ll be lucky to avoid getting sucking into another disaster. We’re not even trying to avoid it. What we just did was an act of war specifically directed at Iran.
@Greg: Well, another nation’s terrorist is the left’s hero. But, someone on CNN didn’t get the daily script and admitted Trump acted on intelligence of an upcoming attack.
You know who else was behind numerous ISIS defeats? Hint: he is currently President of the United States of America. I’ll give you a moment to Google it.
The last disaster we got sucked into was 2008, when idiots elected Obama as a place-keeper until a leader shows up. He showed up in 2016.
The left/right, democrat/republican paradigm has turned into little more than a way of herding voters into corrals for the purposes of manipulation. Everybody ought to be able to agree that war with Iran is a very bad idea. Anyone pushing us in that direction isn’t thinking of the nation’s best interests. No good can come of it.
@Greg: Gee I guess the news just gets worse for you terrorist lovers.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-u-s-military-kills-more-top-iranian-backed-terrorist-leaders-in-airstrikes-report-says/
@Greg:
Yes. Too bad they were going to war with us and other nations, so this a response, not an attack.
I’m disappointed to see the Dems quickly pivot their propaganda to tie the Iraq War to what’s going on now. It’s not equivalent, and you’re standing on the backs of thousands of dead to simply stir malcontent in the US.
Shame on you and your party.
There are so many logical fallacies in that statement it’s not even worth arguing.
@Greg:
So what country are you in, and what culture do you support? You can’t be American and Iranian at the same time. That he is considered a patriot of a theocratic tyranny is irrelevant, and also proof he’s not the same as an American Patriot.
Not even close.
We are the largest democratic republic in the history of the world. They are a backwards theocracy who stole freedom from their people. Their culture and government are not equal to ours.
This is why your ideologies will get millions killed, if left unchecked.
@Greg:
Soleimani was no one’s patriot. At least not the Iranian people’s patriot.
Because we have not declared war against Iran, only the very stupid thinks Iran has not declared war on us.
Don’t tell me that you are under the impression that was because of American interests. Can you really be that stupid?
He was both.
Our own generals do not order their troops to fire on protesters. If they did, Antifa would be wiped out in one day.
You want to ignore what is, and has been happening in Iran. The country is in a period of change. Iranians are tired of the Ayatollah’s heavy hand and are protesting in the streets of many, many Iranian cities and paying for that with their lives. Trump just ordered the killing of one of the people who stood in the Iranians way in their demand for freedom.
@retire05, #12:
So was Libya. This video shows the situation 8 years later. Yesterday, Turkey decided to send in troops.
@Greg: I dont think your link is having the effect you think, It was the previous admin that staged the civil wars in Libya and Syria.
@kitt: Just a friendly reminder that Greg is a disinformation operative who is most likely the following:
1. Not American
2. Not in America
3. Paid to work in a disinformation bot-farm.
Our actions in Iran threaten the globalist ideologies that are being bled from our government, and Greg’s employers can’t let that happen.
The play is to say we’re starting a war, which isn’t true. Greg’s employers are committed to a weak American that can’t oppose the global government.
I know we can’t block this information combatant, but I think we should consider dismissing his comments for good.
@Greg:
Amazing you have the nerve (or foolishness) to invoke Libya in the argument. Libya WAS stable and helping us in the war on terror, after Bush made it clear doing otherwise meant DEATH. Obama and Hillary destabilized all that, mostly to create economic opportunity for Hillary and Podesta (yet another failure). So, now you can see how Obama’s failures continue to produce ill effects.
@Nathan Blue: I dont think Greg is good enough to be a paid op, most disinformation and divisions are sown by our CIA and its counterparts around the planet.
It is getting more and more difficult for them with information technology, so they control silicon valley.
They also control credit card companies, paypal and banks, they are getting a foothold into cryptos.
One thing they can never convince me of is government is the solution to a problem government intentionally created.
Democrats have a serious problem when you can’t tell the difference between a whiny crybaby, still pouting about losing an election they thought they had in the voter fraud bag, opposing a huge victory for this country simply because they hate the President and anti-American enemies of the country. Seems they both support the same thing. I’m glad not to be in that crowd.
@kitt: I’m not saying Greg’s operation is big or sophisticated, but I am saying he’s a non-American propagandist paid to propogate selected disinformation points that mirror Leftist media outlets. He’s not a serious person having a conversation. He’s an information combatant.
And liberals will be demanding Trumps Impeachment for not consulting Congress while Obama never consulted with Congress over Kodaffi