US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air strike

Iran’s most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, has been killed by a US air strike in Iraq.

He was killed at Baghdad airport, alongside local Iran-backed militias, today in a strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. General Soleimani’s killing has marked a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Under his leadership, Iran had bolstered Hezbollah in Lebanon and other pro-Iranian militant groups, expanded Iran’s military presence in Iraq and Syria. Likewise, he orchestrated Syria’s offensive against rebel groups in the country’s long civil war.

Meantime, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned US of harsh retaliation behind the attack. He also announced three days of national mourning.