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| Iran vows revenge after U.S. drone strike kills elite force commander | Iran vows revenge after U.S. drone strike kills elite force commander |
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| President Trump ordered a drone strike near the Baghdad airport killing Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran’s top military figures and leader of its forces abroad. Iran has vowed revenge on the United States, ratcheting up tensions in the region. Here’s what we know: | President Trump ordered a drone strike near the Baghdad airport killing Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran’s top military figures and leader of its forces abroad. Iran has vowed revenge on the United States, ratcheting up tensions in the region. Here’s what we know: |
| • Qasem Soleimani was a towering figure that was key in training Iran’s proxies around the region, especially in Iraq. | • Qasem Soleimani was a towering figure that was key in training Iran’s proxies around the region, especially in Iraq. |
| • Iran has vowed to retaliate against the United States. The U.S. embassy in Iraq has called on all U.S. citizens to leave the country immediately. | • Iran has vowed to retaliate against the United States. The U.S. embassy in Iraq has called on all U.S. citizens to leave the country immediately. |
| • Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Soleimani was planning new attacks against U.S. diplomats in the region, and said America is committed to de-escalation. | • Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Soleimani was planning new attacks against U.S. diplomats in the region, and said America is committed to de-escalation. |
| • Iraqi politicians have roundly condemned the strike, describing it as both a violation of its sovereignty and the agreement allowing U.S. forces in the country. | • Iraqi politicians have roundly condemned the strike, describing it as both a violation of its sovereignty and the agreement allowing U.S. forces in the country. |
| BEIRUT — Iran on Friday vowed "severe revenge" in response to a U.S. airstrike that killed Tehran's most powerful military commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, and dramatically sharpened tensions across the Middle East. | BEIRUT — Iran on Friday vowed "severe revenge" in response to a U.S. airstrike that killed Tehran's most powerful military commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, and dramatically sharpened tensions across the Middle East. |
| Soleimani was a towering figure in Iran's power projection across the region, with close links to a network of paramilitary groups that stretches from Syria to Yemen. His death in the smoldering wreckage of a two-car convoy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, left U.S. outposts and personnel bracing for retaliatory attacks and oil prices shooting upward. The U.S. Embassy in Iraq warned its citizens to leave "immediately." | Soleimani was a towering figure in Iran's power projection across the region, with close links to a network of paramilitary groups that stretches from Syria to Yemen. His death in the smoldering wreckage of a two-car convoy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, left U.S. outposts and personnel bracing for retaliatory attacks and oil prices shooting upward. The U.S. Embassy in Iraq warned its citizens to leave "immediately." |
| "With his departure and with God's power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night's incident," Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement. | "With his departure and with God's power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night's incident," Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement. |
| The country's defense minister, Amir Hatami, said the nighttime strike ordered by President Trump would be met with a "crushing" response. | The country's defense minister, Amir Hatami, said the nighttime strike ordered by President Trump would be met with a "crushing" response. |
| U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he discussed the operation afterwards with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, telling them that "the U.S. remains committed to de-escalation." | U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he discussed the operation afterwards with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, telling them that "the U.S. remains committed to de-escalation." |
| U.S. airstrike kills Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani | U.S. airstrike kills Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani |
| After a week in which frictions between the two countries had sparked a siege of Baghdad's U.S. Embassy by supporters of an Iranian-backed militia, Thursday's airstrike appeared to be aimed at crippling a force that has been the vanguard of Tehran's decades-long effort to shape the region in its favor. | After a week in which frictions between the two countries had sparked a siege of Baghdad's U.S. Embassy by supporters of an Iranian-backed militia, Thursday's airstrike appeared to be aimed at crippling a force that has been the vanguard of Tehran's decades-long effort to shape the region in its favor. |
| Soleimani joined Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a young man and took control of the Quds Force, its special operations wing, in the late 1990s. | Soleimani joined Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a young man and took control of the Quds Force, its special operations wing, in the late 1990s. |
| Under his command, the force built alliances across the region by paying for weapons and providing strategic guidance. As a talismanic figure in that movement, Soleimani was regularly photographed on visits to affiliated militias in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. | Under his command, the force built alliances across the region by paying for weapons and providing strategic guidance. As a talismanic figure in that movement, Soleimani was regularly photographed on visits to affiliated militias in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. |
| The U.S. strike appeared to have killed some of their most important operatives. Among those who died in the convoy were Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, a powerful Iraqi militia leader better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. | The U.S. strike appeared to have killed some of their most important operatives. Among those who died in the convoy were Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, a powerful Iraqi militia leader better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. |
| The strategic impact of Soleimani's death was unclear Friday. He will be succeeded by his deputy in the Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, according to Iranian state media. | The strategic impact of Soleimani's death was unclear Friday. He will be succeeded by his deputy in the Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, according to Iranian state media. |
| Qasem Soleimani: Who was Iran’s powerful military leader? | Qasem Soleimani: Who was Iran’s powerful military leader? |
| Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said the Pentagon took "decisive defensive action" against Soleimani. | Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said the Pentagon took "decisive defensive action" against Soleimani. |
| “Gen. Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” Esper said in a statement. “This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.” | “Gen. Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” Esper said in a statement. “This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.” |
| The basis for that statement remained unclear, although it followed comments by the defense secretary earlier in the day suggesting that Iran and its proxies may be preparing renewed strikes on U.S. personnel in Iraq. | The basis for that statement remained unclear, although it followed comments by the defense secretary earlier in the day suggesting that Iran and its proxies may be preparing renewed strikes on U.S. personnel in Iraq. |
| Experts warned Friday that the strike could serve as a catalyst for greater violence. “The Pentagon said it was carried out with the goal of deterring further Iranian attacks — but in the short term, there is a very real possibility of retaliatory action by Iran that could reverberate across the region,” said Naysan Rafati, a senior Iran analyst with the International Crisis Group. | Experts warned Friday that the strike could serve as a catalyst for greater violence. “The Pentagon said it was carried out with the goal of deterring further Iranian attacks — but in the short term, there is a very real possibility of retaliatory action by Iran that could reverberate across the region,” said Naysan Rafati, a senior Iran analyst with the International Crisis Group. |
| As Friday morning wore on, the responses from Iran’s paramilitary allies rolled in. In Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah issued condolences for Soleimani’s “martyrdom” and urged Shiite militia factions in Iraq not to let his death “go to waste.” | As Friday morning wore on, the responses from Iran’s paramilitary allies rolled in. In Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah issued condolences for Soleimani’s “martyrdom” and urged Shiite militia factions in Iraq not to let his death “go to waste.” |
| Moqtada al-Sadr, a firebrand Iraqi Shiite cleric and militia leader, used his Twitter account to order fighters from his Mahdi Army “to be ready.” Formed in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the group gained notoriety for its attacks on U.S. troops before it was officially disbanded in 2008. | Moqtada al-Sadr, a firebrand Iraqi Shiite cleric and militia leader, used his Twitter account to order fighters from his Mahdi Army “to be ready.” Formed in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the group gained notoriety for its attacks on U.S. troops before it was officially disbanded in 2008. |
| A video circulated by Shiite militia groups showed the crumpled wreckage of the vehicle in which Soleimani purportedly was traveling. A photograph claimed to show his bloodied, ash-covered hand wearing the same blood-red ring seen in earlier photos of him alive. | A video circulated by Shiite militia groups showed the crumpled wreckage of the vehicle in which Soleimani purportedly was traveling. A photograph claimed to show his bloodied, ash-covered hand wearing the same blood-red ring seen in earlier photos of him alive. |
| According to a U.S. official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the record, the attack was conducted by a U.S. drone and struck a two-car convoy on an access road near Baghdad International Airport. At least half a dozen people were believed to have been killed. | According to a U.S. official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the record, the attack was conducted by a U.S. drone and struck a two-car convoy on an access road near Baghdad International Airport. At least half a dozen people were believed to have been killed. |
| In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the U.S. “assassination,” adding that the killing of the Iraqi militia leader was an act of aggression against Iraq and a breach of the conditions under which American forces operate in the country. | In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the U.S. “assassination,” adding that the killing of the Iraqi militia leader was an act of aggression against Iraq and a breach of the conditions under which American forces operate in the country. |
| There are few countries where the power struggle between Washington and Tehran has had such an impact, and Abdul Mahdi’s government has fought to prevent Iraq from becoming an arena for a shadow war between the two. Intensified regional violence would likely begin there, said Henry Rome, an analyst with the Eurasia Group. “Iranian-backed militias will attack U.S. bases and some U.S. soldiers will be killed; the U.S. will retaliate with strikes inside of Iraq,” he wrote in an analysis. | There are few countries where the power struggle between Washington and Tehran has had such an impact, and Abdul Mahdi’s government has fought to prevent Iraq from becoming an arena for a shadow war between the two. Intensified regional violence would likely begin there, said Henry Rome, an analyst with the Eurasia Group. “Iranian-backed militias will attack U.S. bases and some U.S. soldiers will be killed; the U.S. will retaliate with strikes inside of Iraq,” he wrote in an analysis. |
| But he also suggested that the cycle might ultimately be contained. “Why would the Soleimani assassination not immediately trigger a limited or even major conflict? The structural factors are powerful,” he said, suggesting that leaders in Tehran might still be leery of any conflict which further damages an economy already crippled by U.S. sanctions, and that Trump was unlikely to want to embark upon a new war with a reelection campaign looming. | But he also suggested that the cycle might ultimately be contained. “Why would the Soleimani assassination not immediately trigger a limited or even major conflict? The structural factors are powerful,” he said, suggesting that leaders in Tehran might still be leery of any conflict which further damages an economy already crippled by U.S. sanctions, and that Trump was unlikely to want to embark upon a new war with a reelection campaign looming. |
| Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, condemned the U.S. airstrike on Friday and called on all parties to practice restraint. | Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, condemned the U.S. airstrike on Friday and called on all parties to practice restraint. |
| “The vicious attack on Baghdad International Airport last night is an insolent breach of Iraqi sovereignty and international agreements. It led to the killing of several commanders who defeated Islamic State terrorists,” Sistani’s office said in a statement. | “The vicious attack on Baghdad International Airport last night is an insolent breach of Iraqi sovereignty and international agreements. It led to the killing of several commanders who defeated Islamic State terrorists,” Sistani’s office said in a statement. |
| “These events and more indicate the country is heading toward very difficult times. We call on all concerned parties to behave with self restraints and act wisely,” he said. | “These events and more indicate the country is heading toward very difficult times. We call on all concerned parties to behave with self restraints and act wisely,” he said. |
| For its part, Russia said the killing was reckless and would fuel tension in the region and offered condolences to its ally, Iran. “Soleimani loyally served the cause of defending the national interests of Iran. We offer our sincere condolences to the Iranian people,” the Foreign Ministry said. | For its part, Russia said the killing was reckless and would fuel tension in the region and offered condolences to its ally, Iran. “Soleimani loyally served the cause of defending the national interests of Iran. We offer our sincere condolences to the Iranian people,” the Foreign Ministry said. |
| Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russia’s parliament, told the state-run RIA Novosti News Agency that Soleimani’s targeting is “the worst-case scenario” and predicted that Iranian retribution “will not take long.” | Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of Russia’s parliament, told the state-run RIA Novosti News Agency that Soleimani’s targeting is “the worst-case scenario” and predicted that Iranian retribution “will not take long.” |
| “I’ll be happy to be wrong because wars are easy to start, but very hard to end,” Kosachev said. | “I’ll be happy to be wrong because wars are easy to start, but very hard to end,” Kosachev said. |
| Despite a long period of increasing tension between Iran and the Trump administration, which has vowed a tougher stance on Tehran’s support for proxy groups, the attack against an incomparable figure in Iran’s security establishment came as a surprise to many analysts, in part because it was seen as likely to ignite a significant Iranian response. | Despite a long period of increasing tension between Iran and the Trump administration, which has vowed a tougher stance on Tehran’s support for proxy groups, the attack against an incomparable figure in Iran’s security establishment came as a surprise to many analysts, in part because it was seen as likely to ignite a significant Iranian response. |
| The attack, which Esper said was authorized by Trump, raises fresh questions about the president’s approach to the Middle East. While Trump has employed bellicose rhetoric and authorized several strikes against the Syrian government, an ally of Tehran, he has repeatedly voiced his desire to get the United States out of costly wars in the Middle East. | The attack, which Esper said was authorized by Trump, raises fresh questions about the president’s approach to the Middle East. While Trump has employed bellicose rhetoric and authorized several strikes against the Syrian government, an ally of Tehran, he has repeatedly voiced his desire to get the United States out of costly wars in the Middle East. |
| Asia markets were down following the strike and Brent crude oil futures jumped nearly $3 to $69 a barrel, their highest since September. | Asia markets were down following the strike and Brent crude oil futures jumped nearly $3 to $69 a barrel, their highest since September. |
| U.S. stock futures plunged following the news of the airstrike. The Dow Jones industrial average was set to drop around 350 points, more than 1 percent, at Friday’s market open. European markets were trading Friday down nearly 2 percent. | U.S. stock futures plunged following the news of the airstrike. The Dow Jones industrial average was set to drop around 350 points, more than 1 percent, at Friday’s market open. European markets were trading Friday down nearly 2 percent. |
| Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, were trading up around 4 percent. | Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, were trading up around 4 percent. |
| Liz Sly and Sarah Dadouch in Beirut, Erin Cunningham in Istanbul and Robyn Dixon and Isabelle Khurshudyan in Moscow contributed to this report. | Liz Sly and Sarah Dadouch in Beirut, Erin Cunningham in Istanbul and Robyn Dixon and Isabelle Khurshudyan in Moscow contributed to this report. |
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