US-Iran relations tense after Iran’s top military commander gets killed in US airstrike

Baghdad: Iran's General Qassem Soleimani was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport on January 3, 2019. The US Department of Defense informed in a statement that the action was taken “at the direction of the President."

This was a defensive action taken to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, read a statement issued by US Department of Defense.

It further claimed that the General was actively 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. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world," it added.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran condemned the attack warning the US to bear responsibility for its " rogue adventurism."

His tweet reads: "The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation. The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism."

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