[233] The Government of Iraq did not grant permission to the U.S. to target a military commander from another country on its soil. There is no denying the enormity of long-term geopolitical repercussions of the latest events as oil, bond, and gold defensive strategy flows are providing the lead-in for the local cash market opens.”, Ken Berman, of Gorilla Trades, told CNBC, “Most participants remained cautious … as it’s still unclear how the standoff between the U.S. and Iran could affect financial markets. [45], In October 2007, the Bush administration was the first to designate Soleimani a terrorist on the basis of his involvement with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force, and the increasing recognition of the role they played in the Iraq conflict. [85] Furthermore, Mike Pompeo[b] had discussed killing Soleimani with Trump months before the strike, but did not garner support from the president or the defense team then in place. Kata'ib Hezbollah was picked because, according to Soleimani it "would be difficult to detect by the Americans", as well as be able to utilize Iran-provided scout drones for more precision in target selection for the rocket attacks. “Global equities are being hit, and the need for defensive strategies is paramount. [63] The U.S. blamed the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah militia for the attack. Leading up to the meeting, there had been increasing anti-Iran sentiment amongst the local Iraqi population, culminating in prolonged and vocal anti-Iran protests, even featuring such specific displays of anti-Iran sentiment as demonstrators banging their shoes on raised portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In 2006, as the U.S. War in Iraq began to see increasingly sophisticated and lethal roadside bombs,[41] such as explosively formed penetrators (EFPs)—thought to be exclusively due to Iranian influence—[42][43] the U.S. military was seeking ways to mitigate the damage. [155] On 4 January, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said there was "no specific, credible" threat to the U.S. mainland but warned about Iranian capabilities. Five Iraqi nationals and four other Iranian nationals were killed alongside Soleimani, including the deputy chairman of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and commander of the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis – a person designated as a terrorist by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Thousands in Iraq March in Funeral Procession for Iranian General Killed by U.S. "Qasem Soleimani: Thousands mourn assassinated Iranian general", "Rockets target Baghdad's Green Zone, base housing US troops", "170 Iraqi MPs Sign Draft Law to Expel U.S. Rockets hit al-Asad air base in Iraq where US troops are located, At least 10 rockets hit al-Asad air base in Iraq, which houses US forces, a Sunni commander of the paramilitary forces in a nearby town told CNN. "[290], U.S. dronestrike killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, The explosion from the drone strike, as seen from a nearby suburb, U.S. and Iranian activities in Iraq since 2014, Significance of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani. Many details about the missile attack on the Al Asad Air Base remain unclear. Kuwait summoned the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait over the statement and expressed Kuwait's resentment and categorical denial at such statement. Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi was also present. Iranian state media said the crowd of mourners numbered in the "millions", reportedly the biggest since the 1989 funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He often took photographs of himself and openly taunted U.S. [148], On 5 January, the UK announced that the Royal Navy will accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz. [147] Defense officials said the deployment was not directly related to the airstrike which killed Soleimani, but was instead a "precautionary action in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities". [174][175] The funeral was boycotted by critics of the current government by using the hashtag #IraniansDetestSoleimani for the IRGC's war crimes. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region. Had a very good meeting with @kbsalsaud of Saudi Arabia. In Iraq, outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the attack, calling it an assassination and stating that the strike was an act of aggression and a breach of Iraqi sovereignty which would lead to war in Iraq. It was initially reported that Iran canceled the mourning procession planned in Tehran because the city would not be able to handle the number of attendees expected after the turnout in Mashhad;[167][168] however, the Tehran service was held, at which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly wept while leading prayers for the funeral. Senator Lindsey Graham indicated Trump had discussed the matter with him in advance of the strike, as he was visiting the president at his Mar-a-Lago estate. People in harm’s way were able to get to bunkers/safety,” CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz tweeted. We discussed Trade, Military, Oil Prices, Security, and Stability in the Middle East!”, READ NEXT: Recent College Grad Shot Dead While Driving with Boyfriend, Al Asad Air Base Missile Strike: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. [65][66] On 29 December 2019, retaliatory U.S. airstrikes targeted five Kata'ib Hezbollah weapon storage facilities and command and control locations in Iraq and Syria. Tuesday after Iran's missile attack on two U.S. air bases in Iraq, the danger of imminent war seemed to have passed. Iran’s Missile Attack on U.S. This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Iran called it “fierce revenge” for the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani. [146] The following day, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the deployment of 3,500 members of the 82nd Airborne Division to the region, one of the largest rapid deployments in decades. [46] According to an interview with a PolitiFact journalist, retired U.S. Army Colonel Frank Sobchak, said that around the same time U.S. special forces had planned for his capture, but the mission was not approved by senior officials. Days later, Shia militiamen and their supporters retaliated by attacking the U.S. embassy in the Green Zone. [243], PMF is legally incorporated into the Iraqi security forces by a series of laws enacted by the parliament and Prime Ministerial orders, therefore, technically, the U.S. killed a senior Iraqi official (Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis) and other military personnel of Iraq. The base has also been used by British forces. Science & technology Jan 18th 2020 edition. [28], Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was designated a terrorist by the U.S. in 2009. The base houses American and Iraqi troops. The attack on the base, which houses American and Iraqi forces, began at 1:20 a.m., the same time that Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. strike near Baghdad Airport on January 3. [272] The Iraqi parliament voted to ask the U.S. to withdraw their forces from Iraq. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.”. "[238] Johnson later said "... the strict issue of legality is not for the UK to determine since it was not our operation", in response to Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn who called it an "illegal act" and asked for the government to condemn it. The MQ-9 Reaper drone was probably equipped with, For the leading proponent of the view that leadership targeting is not effective, see, 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq (2020), 2019–20 attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Senate Intelligence Committee Russia Report, withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, missile attacks on U.S. forces based in Iraq, American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present), Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014–present), Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, December 2019 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, Attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, sustained massive street protests in Iraq, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Article Two of the United States Constitution, Reactions to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, agreement on the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq, Timeline of United States military operations, "US drone strike ordered by Trump kills top Iranian commander in Baghdad", "As Tensions With Iran Escalated, Trump Opted for Most Extreme Measure", "Qassem Soleimani Haunted the Arab World", "The US-Iran crisis has calmed down — but things won't ever go back to how they were before", "Decision Making in Using Assassinations in International Relations", "Iran moves missiles to Iraq in warning to enemies—sources", "Iran After the Deal—What to Do When the JCPOA Expires", "Analysis | Was Obama's $1.7 billion cash deal with Iran prohibited by U.S. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited the base on December 26, 2018, and Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence made a visit there on November 23, 2019, ahead of Thanksgiving. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was considered the second most powerful person of Iran, subordinate to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "[79][80][81][82], According to an unnamed senior U.S. official, sometime after the bombing of Kata'ib Hezbollah in late December 2019, a security briefing was convened at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate where he and his advisors, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Mark Milley discussed how to respond to Iran's alleged role in sponsoring anti-U.S. attacks in Iraq. Following the shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 amidst the escalation, no additional actions took place. forces. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!”, Trump earlier said on January 4 on Twitter, “Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters.”, Trump added, “He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. [273], On 4 January, Trump tweeted that 52 Iranian targets (representing the 52 American hostages in the 1979–81 Iran hostage crisis) had been selected if Iran "strikes any Americans, or American assets". In 2017, ISIL forces in Iraq were largely defeated amidst a civil war, with the help of primarily Iran-backed Shia militias—the Popular Mobilization Forces, reporting to the Iraqi prime minister since 2016—and the U.S.-backed Iraqi Armed Forces. [151] The PMF also denied that any medical convoy was targeted at Taji. On 27 December 2019, the K-1 Air Base in Iraq, which hosts Iraqi and U.S. personnel, was attacked, killing an American contractor. [72][73][74] U.S. president Donald Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the attack on the embassy and added that they would be held "fully responsible". [156] Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would result in the U.S. targeting 52 Iranian significant sites, including cultural sites. On 6 January 2020, House Speaker Pelosi announced plans to hold a vote within the week on limiting President Trump's war powers concerning Iran. He said they had planned to "buy a property adjacent to the grave of Soleimani's father and rig it with explosives to kill the commander". [40], Responses to Qasem Soleimani's perceived destructive influence in Iraq and abroad have been a topic of debate amongst U.S. officials for many years. #CNN #News2020-01-07T23:57:08.000Z. The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Engel said "The 2002 authorisation was passed to deal with Saddam Hussein. [259] The House vote is considered significant, as the U.S. Constitution provides that while the president may use the military to defend the country, any declaration of war must be approved by Congress (note that Congress has never declared war on anyone since World War II). Rockets hit al-Asad air base in Iraq where US troops are locatedAt least 10 rockets hit al-Asad air base in Iraq, which houses US forces, a Sunni commander of the paramilitary forces in a nearby town told CNN. As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners and allies in the region.”, — Saeed Jalili (@DrSaeedJalili) January 7, 2020. Iranian state TV released video purporting to show the missile attack. Secondly, Rouhani mentioned in his speech that "They cut off the hand of our dear Soleimani" and as revenge they, the Iranians, would cut off the legs of the Americans and toss them out of neighboring countries. [233] Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said the attack was a "breach of the conditions for the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq". "[230] He and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Mohamed al-Halbousi released separate written statements, both calling the attack a breach of Iraq's sovereignty. It is not yet known if there were any casualties. Iraqi President Barham Salih tweeted, "Iraqis insist on a state with complete sovereignty that will not be breached. When the U.S. strike killed Soleimani, a powerful political and military leader in Iran who led the Quds Force, Trump simply tweeted clip-art of an American flag. He said the strike violated the agreement on the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq and that safeguards for Iraq's security and sovereignty should be met with legislation. According to the office of the Iraqi caretaker prime minister, the U.S. secretary of state has subsequently been requested to send a delegation to Iraq tasked with formulating the mechanism for the withdrawal of U.S troops from Iraq. U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo avoided a direct answer when asked about cultural targets, saying that Washington will do the things that are right and the things that are consistent with U.S. Missile technology Iran’s attack on Iraq shows how precise missiles have become. ", "Why Soleimani's killing is different from other targeted attacks by U.S.", "Timeline of Trump's shifting justifications for Soleimani killing", "House to vote on limiting Trump's military powers regarding Iran, Pelosi says", "Pelosi announces vote to limit Trump's war powers on Iran", "House slates Iran War Powers resolution vote for Thursday", "Pelosi sets vote on measure to limit Trump's war powers, citing 'urgent' concerns on Iran strategy", "As White House Works to Crush Debate Over Legality of Iran Strike, Democrats Move Ahead With War Powers Vote", "US House to vote on limiting Trump's actions against Iran", "U.S. House passes resolution to limit Trump's ability to wage war on Iran", "AP: US kills Iran's most powerful general in Baghdad airstrike", "Iran's supreme leader warns a 'harsh retaliation is waiting' for the US, after an American airstrike killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani", "Top Iranian Commander Killed in U.S. Airstrike on Trump Orders", "Reactions to the killing of Iranian general in a U.S. air strike", "Iran tells U.N. it reserves right to self-defense over Soleimani killing", "Iran considers options for retribution over Soleimani killing", "Sorrow mixed with fear as Iran mourns Soleimani's death", "Qasem Soleimani: Why his killing is good news for IS jihadists", "Iraqi PM condemns US killing of Iran's Soleimani", "Iraqi parliament vows to 'put an end to US presence' in country", "Iraq's Sadr mourns Soleimani, says followers ready to defend Iraq: statement", "Trump warns Iran if it hits any Americans or American assets 'we have targeted 52 Iranian sites", Trump warns Iran: US has targeted '52 Iranian sites' and will 'hit very fast and very hard' if needed, "Rouhani points to US downing of Iranian airliner in response to Trump threat", "Trump's threats draw Iran's cultural sites into tensions", "Trump Reiterates Threat to Target Iranian Cultural Sites", "McConnell lauds Iranian general's killing as Schumer decries lack of consultation with Congress", "Pelosi seeks to curb Trump's ability to strike Iran", "2020 Dems warn of escalation in Middle East after Soleimani killing", "Impeachment: Warren accuses Trump of 'wag the dog' strike on Suleimani". [2], On 6 January, Chevron evacuated all its American oil workers from Iraqi Kurdistan as a "precautionary measure". [80][127][128], According to Saudi-based Arab News, the drone that struck Soleimani's convoy had been launched from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and was controlled remotely by operators at the Creech Air Force Base. “It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. After the missile launch, an Iranian official, Saeed Jalili, taunted Trump by tweeting out a clip-art of an Iranian flag. The Al Asad Air Base, also known as Al-Assad and Ayn al Asad, is located in western Iraq in the Anbar province. [276] Among those targets were Iranian "cultural sites",[277] and Trump subsequently insisted he would not hesitate to destroy such targets even after some said it could be considered a war crime. The air strike would have been called off if Soleimani had been on his way to meet with Iraqi government officials aligned with the U.S.[2], Trump did not advise the top congressional leaders of the Gang of Eight in advance of the strike. شما غلط میکنید! [57][58][61][59] The next step in the strategy chosen by Soleimani was to step up attacks on U.S. forces. [169][170] Iranian authorities planned to take Soleimani's body to Qom on 6 January for public mourning processions,[171] then onto his hometown of Kerman for final burial on 7 January. [10], Concerning the provisional nuclear deal with Iran, some critics of the treaty argued that Iran could make a nuclear bomb after expiry of the limited-term nuclear deal.

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