Iran Warns ‘Harsh Retaliation’ after Soleimani’s Killing

Iran

January 3rd, 5:26am

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Combination photo of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Qassem Soleimani (L) and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a commander in the Popular Mobilization Forces. REUTERS/Stringer/Thaier al-Sudani

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei warned on Friday that “a harsh retaliation is waiting” after a US airstrike killed Quds Force Commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Khamenei called for a three-day mourning and said Soleimani's killing will double the motivation of the resistance against the US and Israel. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, slammed the killing as a dangerous escalation and warned Washington would bear responsibility for the consequences. "The US' act of international terrorism, targeting and assassinating General Soleimani... is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation," Zarif wrote on Twitter. "The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism," he added. The Pentagon said US President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani's "killing," after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy. Following Soleimani's death, Trump tweeted an image of the US flag without any further explanation. Early Friday, a volley of missiles hit Baghdad's international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Just a few hours later, Iranian state television carried a statement by the Revolutionary Guard Corps saying Soleimani "was martyred in an attack by America on Baghdad airport this morning." The PMF confirmed that both Soleimani and its deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in what it said was a "US strike."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2064256/iran-warns-%E2%80%98harsh-retaliation%E2%80%99-after-soleimani%E2%80%99s-killing