After a series of rocket attacks against diplomats and American soldiers, attributed by Washington to pro-Iran in Iraq, the escalation reached an unprecedented peak with the violent death of the two top officials. The Pentagon has confirmed that President Donald Trump has given orders to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, in charge of Iraqi affairs in the ideological army of Iran, who died in the bombing of Baghdad airport, in Iraq, Friday January 3.
"On the orders of the president, the United States military has taken decisive defensive measures to protect United States personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani," the US Department of Defense said in a statement. "The strike was intended to dissuade Iran from any plans for an attack."
Earlier today, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said there were indications that Iran or Tehran-backed forces could prepare "new attacks" on US facilities.
Number two of Hashd al-Chaabi killed
Hachd al-Chaabi, a powerful coalition of mostly pro-Iran paramilitaries now integrated into the Iraqi state, said that his number two, Abu Mehdi al-Mouhandis, was also among the eight victims of this "American raid".
The deadly bombardment raises fears of a new escalation between Iran and the United States in Iraq, already the theater on Tuesday of an unprecedented attack by pro-Iranian demonstrators against the American embassy.
With AFP and Reuters
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