Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
January 3, 2020 · 21st Century
On January 3, 2020, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport. Soleimani commanded the IRGC Quds Force, which directed Iranian proxy operations across the Middle East. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, was also killed. Trump ordered the strike without congressional notification, citing imminent threat. Iran retaliated on January 8 with ballistic missile strikes on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, injuring 110 US service members with traumatic brain injuries.
Key Figures
Donald TrumpQasem Soleimani
Locations
Baghdad
Topics
assassinationUSAwarIranIraqMiddle Eastdrone warfare
Connected Events — 4 Connections
Escalated US-Iran military confrontation following diplomatic collapse of United States Withdraws from JCPOA
Most significant US military action against Iran since USS Vincennes Shoots Down Iran Air Flight 655
Preceded and contributed to military escalation that included United States Withdraws from JCPOA
First US attack on Iranian territory since drone strike era of Operation Midnight Hammer — US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites
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