Lois Larson
On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, was killed by a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and European Parliament. The drone strike was ordered by US President Donald Trump, who stated that Soleimani was directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people. Soleimani's killing marked a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, with many anticipating Iranian retaliation and a broader conflict.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 January 2020 |
| Location | Baghdad International Airport |
| Target | Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force |
| Target's Nationality | Iranian |
| Target's Rank | Major General |
| Method | Drone strike |
| Assailant | United States |
| Assailant's Commander | President Donald Trump |
| Assailant's Justification | "Directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people" |
| Casualties | 9-10 killed, including Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis |
| Casualties' Nationality | 5 Iraqi, 4 Iranian |
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What You'll Learn
The US strike was ordered by President Trump
On January 3, 2020, Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani was killed by an American drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization by the US and European Parliament.
The drone strike was conducted in secrecy, with few aware of the plans. The MQ-9 Reaper drone, likely equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, targeted Soleimani's vehicle in a motorcade. The strike was executed with precision, suggesting it was well-rehearsed.
The decision to target Soleimani was made by President Trump, who has the legal authority to order such an attack. While Trump can give the order, he would need to persuade the military to carry it out. The strike was likely the result of a consultation process between Trump and top military officials at the Pentagon, where codes would be exchanged to confirm the president's identity.
The killing of Soleimani raised tensions between the US and Iran, with France 24 stating that the targeted killing "caused alarm around the world, amid fears that Iranian retaliation against American interests in the region could spiral into a far larger conflict." The day after the strike, the US announced the deployment of 3,500 members of the 82nd Airborne Division to the region, citing increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities.
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The killing of Soleimani escalated tensions between the US and Iran
On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, was killed by an American drone strike ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Parliament.
Soleimani's killing sharply escalated tensions between the US and Iran. Iranian leaders vowed revenge, while US officials said they would preemptively attack any Iran-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq that they perceived as a threat. The day after the Baghdad airport attack, Iraqi state news reported another airstrike on a convoy of medical units of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. The UK announced that the Royal Navy would accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and according to media reports, a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine armed with Tomahawk missiles was ready to strike Iran if tensions escalated.
The drone strike was conducted in secrecy, with few knowing about the plans. It was so hidden that not even the US military's own spy satellites were aware of its position. The killing of such a senior figure was considered reckless by some, and an act of war or international terrorism by others. The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, wrote a letter to the UN Security Council stating that the act was one of self-defense, and that the US was ready to engage in negotiations with Iran. However, the Government of Iraq did not grant permission for the US to target a military commander from another country on its soil, and some legal experts believe this makes it difficult for the US to justify the attack.
The attack was also criticised by many Democratic US officials, who expressed concern that it brought the United States one step closer to war with Iran. In contrast, Republican allies of President Trump supported the decision. The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Eliot Engel, criticised the Trump administration, stating that the 2002 authorization passed to deal with Saddam Hussein should not be used to justify the killing of an Iranian official. On 6 January 2020, House Speaker Pelosi announced plans to hold a vote to limit President Trump's war powers concerning Iran.
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Soleimani was a powerful Iranian military commander
Qasem Soleimani was a powerful Iranian military commander who was killed by an American drone strike on January 3, 2020, near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, an elite division of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine military operations. He played a significant role in Iran's proxy efforts across the Middle East and was considered a "genius of asymmetric warfare."
Soleimani's decades-long career was devoted to establishing a network of Shiite Muslim militias that targeted U.S. troops, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers and wounding thousands more. He also played a crucial role in battling Sunni Muslim militants such as ISIS. Soleimani's military expertise and strategic prowess were recognised by both allies and enemies, with Lieutenant General Mark Hertling describing him as a "quiet, charismatic guy, a strategic genius, and a tactical operator."
Soleimani's presence at Baghdad International Airport was likely due to his involvement in coordinating military operations and strengthening alliances with regional partners. He had previously visited Baghdad in October 2019 to meet with Iraqi Shiite militia allies and discuss a change in strategy, which included increasing targeted rocket attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. This strategy aimed to provoke an antagonistic response from the U.S., thereby diverting political pressure from Iran.
The killing of Soleimani by the U.S. was highly controversial and caused alarm worldwide, raising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The targeted killing was conducted in secrecy, with even the U.S. military's own spy satellites unaware of the drone's position. The strike was ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, who defended the action as one of self-defence. However, the lack of consent from the Iraqi government for the strike on foreign soil led to legal complexities and criticism of the U.S.'s justification for the attack.
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The US justified the killing as defensive action
On 3 January 2020, Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and European Parliament.
The US justified the killing as a defensive action. US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft wrote to the UN Security Council, stating that the act was one of self-defence. She added that the US stood "ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations with Iran, with the goal of preventing further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by the Iranian regime".
The Trump administration maintained that the killing was authorised under both the Constitution and the 2002 Authorisation of Use of Military Force Against Iraq. However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Eliot Engel, refuted this, stating that the 2002 authorisation was intended to deal with Saddam Hussein, not Iran or Iranian government officials in Iraq.
Some legal experts argued that the US's self-defence argument was questionable and did not meet the threshold for justifying the attack. The UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, stated that the US had failed to provide sufficient evidence of an ongoing or imminent attack to justify the strike under international law. She also questioned whether the targeting of Soleimani was more of a retaliatory act for past actions rather than a defensive move.
The legality of the killing was debated, with some arguing that it violated international law and the UN Charter, which generally prohibits the use of force against other states without their consent. The Iraqi government did not grant permission for the US to target a military commander from another country on its soil. However, others defended the action, stating that the US had the right to defend itself against an imminent threat.
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The killing was conducted in secrecy
On 3 January 2020, Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani was killed by an American drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and European Parliament.
The operation was so secretive that it was compared to raids against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. The Pentagon and the CIA were suspected to have played a role in the operation.
The day after the Baghdad airport attack, the US 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. The UK also announced that the Royal Navy would accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz. These moves heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with many Iraqis considering the strike a grim milestone in their relationship with the US.
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Frequently asked questions
Soleimani had just arrived at Baghdad airport and was travelling in a convoy with Iranian-backed militia officials when their cars were hit by US missiles. Soleimani was travelling to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
Qasem Soleimani was an Iranian major general and commander of the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Soleimani was considered the second most powerful person in Iran, after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Pentagon stated that Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more. Soleimani was also accused of orchestrating violent crackdowns on peaceful pro-democracy protests in Baghdad.
