[Shaun]

Not a Republican incumbent using a war to try and remain in office

General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, has been killed by US forces in Iraq.

The Pentagon confirmed he was killed "at the direction of the president".

It comes after reports of a strike at Baghdad's international airport, which is said to have killed a number of people.

The death marks a huge escalation which analysts fear could lead to an Iranian response.

Gen Soleimani was a major figure in the Iranian regime. His Quds force reported directly to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and he was hailed as a heroic national figure.

US President Donald Trump tweeted an image of the American flag after the news broke.

Global oil prices meanwhile soared more than 4% in the wake of the strike.

"At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani," a Pentagon statement said.

"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."

The strike comes days after protesters surrounded the US embassy in Baghdad, clashing with US forces at the scene. The Pentagon said Gen Soleimani approved the attacks on the embassy.

"General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more," the statement said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis had also been killed in the US attack, blaming an attack by US helicopters.

Reports also suggest that a number of Iraq militia heads have been detained by US forces in Baghdad, although this is unconfirmed.

Since 1998, Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani led Iran's Quds Force - an elite unit in Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which handles clandestine operations abroad.

In that position Gen Soleimani played a key role bolstering Bashar al-Assad's Iranian-supported government in the Syrian Civil War, and in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq.

He first came to prominence in his country serving in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

Most likely won't result in WW3 but this has to be the dumbest move in decades.

[Kizzy]

Ah this will be why the latest army recruitment drive.. we don't care how fat, shy or asthmatic you are, come feed our war machine.

[arista]

https://news.sky.com/story/top-irani...rport-11900074

Its tit for tat
not WW3, Shaun.

[Nicky91]

Sulejmani was involved in many of the wars, attacks around the middle east


what our dutch middle east correspondents said on our news this morning, ''you can expect a counter attack from Iran now to avenge their fallen hero''


this was a good move from US, but a very very risky one so US should be on high alert now at their military bases in Iran, if any naval ships in the area they need to be guarded 24/7

[The Slim Reaper]

[bots]

These things can easily escalate quickly and spiral out of control. It's not helped by Trump needing a political diversion either. Iran do need to be held in check though, just hope its not ww3

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

These things can easily escalate quickly and spiral out of control. It's not helped by Trump needing a political diversion either. Iran do need to be held in check though, just hope its not ww3

Iran were held in check by the deal they signed with Obama and the EU. Trump tore that deal up so they got further into bed with China and Russia.

[Ammi]

[The Slim Reaper]

[The Slim Reaper]

Youtube video

[arista]

Its Iran
that wants a War.
Their nation has had
Riots against the Government
the past months

A War would unite the nation of Iran

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by arista

Its Iran
that wants a War.
Their nation has had
Riots against the Government
the past months

A War would unite the nation of Iran

It's more worrying that Iran has the backing of Russia and China, but trump is too stupid to realise.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

It's more worrying that Iran has the backing of Russia and China, but trump is too stupid to realise.

something we already knew long time ago, in his first election campaign

[arista]

One For Shaun

[Nicky91]

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/03/world...eral-11993960/

''The phrase ‘World War 3’ began trending after the killing of the Iranian leader’s second in command in a US airstrike.''

[Oliver_W]

Jeez, when will our leaders ("leaders") stop kicking hornet nests?

[Beso]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

It's more worrying that Iran has the backing of Russia and China, but trump is too stupid to realise.

China won't jeapordise the new trade deals they have coming up with the usa in mid january...Russia just a blowbag nation..

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by parmnion

China won't jeapordise the new trade deals they have coming up with the usa in mid january…Russia just a blowbag nation..

our dutch foreign minister Blok will have discussions with Russia, trying to get more Mutual respect between them and EU, and vice versa

something what Blok wants to continue doing, otherwise Russia will divide the EU eventually

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by parmnion

China won't jeapordise the new trade deals they have coming up with the usa in mid january...Russia just a blowbag nation..

Trump is actually more in need of seeing a deal over the line than China. His tariffs have been bad for the US economy and it's farmers in particular. No way he can go into an election with that hanging over him..

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

our dutch foreign minister Blok will have discussions with Russia, trying to get more Mutual respect between them and EU, and vice versa

something what Blok wants to continue doing, otherwise Russia will divide the EU eventually

Good luck with that.
Putin wants to destroy the EU as you well know.

[Nicky91]

i am laughing how people around the world are thinking, we are going to world war 3

when it's solely the US who are responsible for this crime against Iran, so as long as other countries don't make alliances with america they're good with Iran


and a good revenge action from Iran, would be if they destroy those precious oil fields, given US wants all of that oil

[Nicky91]

The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, also issued a statement promising action in response to the killing. "Without a doubt, the great Iranian nation and other free nations in the region will take revenge on criminal America for this ghastly crime," he said.

Meanwhile Iraqi leaders vehemently condemned the assassinations, with Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi warning of a "devastating" war that could engulf the region, and a top militia commander, Hadi al-Ameri, calling for action to push US troops out of the country.

“I call on national forces to unify their ranks to expel foreign forces," said Mr Ameri, a onetime protege of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to state television.

“US should either remove all its bases from the region or buy coffins for its troops

a full statement from Hassan Rohani

and from his twitter account

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

i am laughing how people around the world are thinking, we are going to world war 3

when it's solely the US who are responsible for this crime against Iran, so as long as other countries don't make alliances with america they're good with Iran


and a good revenge action from Iran, would be if they destroy those precious oil fields, given US wants all of that oil

I think you're right, there won't be any war, just occasional provocations from both sides, and not necessarily in the region either

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

i am laughing how people around the world are thinking, we are going to world war 3

when it's solely the US who are responsible for this crime against Iran, so as long as other countries don't make alliances with america they're good with Iran


and a good revenge action from Iran, would be if they destroy those precious oil fields, given US wants all of that oil

Soleimani was responsible for unthinkable violence in the world, what are your views about him and the Iran attacks on US embassy in Iraq?

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

i am laughing how people around the world are thinking, we are going to world war 3

when it's solely the US who are responsible for this crime against Iran, so as long as other countries don't make alliances with america they're good with Iran


and a good revenge action from Iran, would be if they destroy those precious oil fields, given US wants all of that oil

I agree that it won't come to WWIII, but I gather the line of thought is that China and Russia will join Iran in retaliation, while the UK (and others?) will join the USA...