The late Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani
Lot of things popping in Baghdad right now, and the facts are still emerging, so we’ll tell you what we know so far and update as more comes in.
There were missiles that hit at or near the Baghdad airport where there is a U.S and Iraqi counter terrorism force.
Rockets Strike #Iraq's #BaghdadAirport, #USMilitary Choppers Spotted in Airspace. Three rockets landed on the edge of #Baghdad International Airport , causing explosions but no deaths or injuries, according to local reporters.#IraqiProtests
One person apparently confirmed dead was Mohammed Ridha who was seen outside the embassy during the attack.
Reports are that Mohammed Ridha head of Protocol office in the PMF was accompanied by high value guests, their SUVs were hit directly inside of Baghdad Airport’s main road
The PMF is admitting that Ridha/Reda was killed. The reports are that Ridha may have been picking up high profile folks at the airport.
But the question is who were the “special guests” who were with him who apparently were also taken out in the strike?
Reports now coming in that one of the people in the car was a big hit – the IRGC head Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for many American deaths. Soleimani is the military mastermind whom Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had deemed equally as dangerous as Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who died in a strike by U.S.-led forces in October, according to Fox.
Major news coming out of Iraq : A direct hit results in the death of Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis and General Qassem Sulaimani (Iranian leader of Quds force) , their convoy coming out of Baghdad international Airport, we are awaiting an official press release to confirm from either side
Sulaimani is Iran’s second most powerful man, after Ayatollah Khamenai the leader of the Iranian Islamic revolution. He is in charge of the Iranian political, economical and military influence in the entire region. Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and Gaza strip.
Iraqi state media reported that Soleimani and the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were both killed in the attack.
BREAKING - multiple reports coming from #Iraq claiming that *both* #IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani & #PMU Deputy Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes were killed tonight in the [alleged US] drone strike outside #Baghdad Airport.
The PMF is blaming the U.S. and Israel for the strike, but the U.S. has not confirmed their involvement as yet. The PMF official admitted that seven people were killed in the strike.
Soleimani is believed to have had a hand in directing the attack on the attack on the U.S. Embassy on Dec. 31. According to an Alhurra report, Soleimani had helped get a pro-Iranian head of security for the Green Zone installed specifically to help aid in such an attack. As we noted yesterday, this obviously would have had security implications for the future safety at the embassies.
3. Soleimani is extraordinarily close to the Supreme Leader of Iran. Soleimani reports directly to the Supreme Leader, the Qods force is technically part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which also reports to the Supreme Leader.
He is more powerful than Iran's President
He is more powerful than Iran's President
This is developing and we will update.
https://www.redstate.com/nick-arama/2020/01/02/breaking/