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| Qasem Soleimani: Iran vows 'severe revenge' for top general's death | Qasem Soleimani: Iran vows 'severe revenge' for top general's death |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Iran's supreme leader has vowed "severe revenge" on those responsible for the death of top military commander Qasem Soleimani. | Iran's supreme leader has vowed "severe revenge" on those responsible for the death of top military commander Qasem Soleimani. |
| Soleimani was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport early on Friday ordered by US President Donald Trump. | Soleimani was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport early on Friday ordered by US President Donald Trump. |
| The 62-year-old spearheaded Iranian operations in the Middle East as head of the elite Quds Force. Mr Trump said he caused millions of deaths. | The 62-year-old spearheaded Iranian operations in the Middle East as head of the elite Quds Force. Mr Trump said he caused millions of deaths. |
| The killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. | The killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. |
| Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported directly to the ayatollah and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure. | Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported directly to the ayatollah and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure. |
| Under his 21-year leadership of the Quds Force, Iran bolstered Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militant groups in Lebanon; expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria; and orchestrated Syria's offensive against rebel groups in that country's long civil war. | |
| US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US wanted to de-escalate the situation, but that the strike was "lawful" and "saved lives". He told Fox News: "We do not seek war with Iran but we will not stand by and see American lives put at risk." | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US wanted to de-escalate the situation, but that the strike was "lawful" and "saved lives". He told Fox News: "We do not seek war with Iran but we will not stand by and see American lives put at risk." |
| Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Iranians have been holding rallies in Tehran and other cities, denouncing what they call US crimes. | Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Iranians have been holding rallies in Tehran and other cities, denouncing what they call US crimes. |
| Global oil prices have soared by more than 4% in the wake of the attack. | Global oil prices have soared by more than 4% in the wake of the attack. |
| What have the Iranians said? | What have the Iranians said? |
| Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack. His death would double "resistance" against the US and Israel, he added. | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack. His death would double "resistance" against the US and Israel, he added. |
| He also announced three days of national mourning. The ayatollah would lead prayers at a funeral ceremony for the general in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media quoted Soleimani's family as saying. | |
| Later, the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body, said the US would be held responsible for its "criminal adventurism". | Later, the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body, said the US would be held responsible for its "criminal adventurism". |
| "This was the biggest US strategic blunder in the West Asia region, and America will not easily escape its consequences," it said in a statement. | "This was the biggest US strategic blunder in the West Asia region, and America will not easily escape its consequences," it said in a statement. |
| Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the attack an "act of international terrorism". | Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the attack an "act of international terrorism". |
| Soleimani's deputy, Gen Esmail Qaani, has been appointed as his successor. | |
| Another Middle Eastern milestone? | |
| The Americans and their allies in Israel and the West have tracked Soleimani closely for years. It's likely that he has been in their sights before. | |
| The fact that this time the Americans pulled the trigger suggests that President Trump believes the reward is worth the risk, that the Iranian regime has been so weakened by isolation, economic sanctions and recent demonstrations that it will rage but not offer a serious strategic threat. | |
| But it is not at all clear whether the assassination fits into a coherent US strategy, and such an assumption could be dangerous and wrong. | |
| Soleimani was a colossal figure inside Iran. He was its strategic mastermind. Perhaps he left a plan of steps to take if he were killed. | |
| This assassination at the start of a new year and a new decade might turn into another Middle Eastern milestone, touching off another sequence of bloody events. | |
| To begin with, the Iranian regime must now be planning its answer to his death, to show that the position Soleimani spent so long creating outside its borders in the Middle East can be defended. | |
| Read more from Jeremy | |
| In other reaction: | In other reaction: |
| How has the US responded? | How has the US responded? |
| The US has called the commander and the Quds Force terrorists, holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel. | |
| President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the strike, tweeted an image of the American flag shortly afterwards. | President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the strike, tweeted an image of the American flag shortly afterwards. |
| Tweeting again on Friday, Mr Trump said Soleimani had "killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans... and was plotting to kill many more" and "should have been taken out many years ago". | Tweeting again on Friday, Mr Trump said Soleimani had "killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans... and was plotting to kill many more" and "should have been taken out many years ago". |
| "While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country," he said. | "While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country," he said. |
| A statement from the Pentagon - the headquarters of the US Department of Defense - said Soleimani had been "developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region". | A statement from the Pentagon - the headquarters of the US Department of Defense - said Soleimani had been "developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region". |
| "This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," it added. | "This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," it added. |
| How did the strike take place and who was killed? | How did the strike take place and who was killed? |
| Soleimani and officials from Iran-backed militias were leaving Baghdad airport in two cars when they were hit by several missiles from a US drone strike near a cargo area. | Soleimani and officials from Iran-backed militias were leaving Baghdad airport in two cars when they were hit by several missiles from a US drone strike near a cargo area. |
| The commander had reportedly flown in from Lebanon or Syria. | The commander had reportedly flown in from Lebanon or Syria. |
| Iran's Revolutionary Guard said 10 people were killed, including five of its members and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. | Iran's Revolutionary Guard said 10 people were killed, including five of its members and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. |
| Muhandis commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group, blamed by Washington for a rocket attack which killed a US civilian contractor in northern Iraq last Friday. | Muhandis commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group, blamed by Washington for a rocket attack which killed a US civilian contractor in northern Iraq last Friday. |
| He also effectively led the Popular Mobilisation units (PM), an umbrella of militias in Iraq dominated by groups aligned with Iran. | He also effectively led the Popular Mobilisation units (PM), an umbrella of militias in Iraq dominated by groups aligned with Iran. |