The United States has killed Major General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC's) Quds Force, in an air strike at Baghdad International Airport, report Al Jazeera and AFP.
Tensions between the US and Iran escalated dramatically on Friday after the killings of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), or Hashd al-Shaabi group.
The White House and the Pentagon confirmed the killing of Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump and was aimed at deterring future attacks allegedly being planned by Iran.
The attack occurred amid tensions with the US after an Iran-backed militia and its supporters attempted to storm the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday in protest against recent US air attacks on PMF sites in Iraq and Syria that killed 25 fighters.
‘Hezbollah to continue path of Soleimani’
Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said his group would continue the path of Soleimani after his death, broadcaster Al Manar reported.
Nasrallah said the US would not be able to achieve its goals with this ‘big crime’ and just punishment was the responsibility of all fighters, Al Manar reported.
Israel's military on high alert
Israel's military had gone on heightened alert amid fears that Iran could strike through its regional allies such as Hezbollah to the north, or through Palestinian group Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Israel's foreign ministry and defence officials announced a high-security alert at Israel's oversea delegations, fearing retaliation by Iran following the death of Soleimani.
Israel's defence minister summoned the country's military and security chiefs to Tel Aviv in the wake of the killing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly cut short his trip to Greece.
US 'assassination' will lead to war: Iraqi PM
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned on Friday the “assassination” of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US air strike in Baghdad.
The air strike on Baghdad airport is an act of aggression on Iraq and breach of its sovereignty that will lead to war in Iraq, the region, and the world, he said in a statement.
The strike also violated the conditions of US military presence in Iraq and should be met with legislation that safeguards Iraq’s security and sovereignty, he added.
He called on parliament to convene in an extraordinary session.
Syria condemns killing of Soleimani
Syria strongly condemns the ‘treacherous, criminal American aggression’ that led to the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, state news agency SANA cited a foreign ministry source as saying.
The source said the attack constituted a ‘serious escalation’ and reaffirmed US responsibility for instability in Iraq, according to SANA.
Militia commander orders to prepare for war
Iran-backed Iraqi militia commander Qais al-Khazali ordered on Friday his fighters to be on high alert for an upcoming battle and said that US military presence in Iraq would end soon.
“All fighters should be on high alert for upcoming battle and great victory. The price for the blood for the martyred commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is the complete end to American military presence in Iraq,” local TV channel al-Ahd which is close to his Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia quoted him as saying.
Iraq's Sadr mourns Soleimani, reactivates Mahdi army
Iraq's prominent Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said the killing of Soleimani was targeting Iraq's opposition and Jihad, adding that it will not weaken its resolve.
In a statement, Al-Sadr called on his militias (Army of Imam Mahdi) and ‘other national and disciplined’ armed groups to be prepared to protect Iraq. He also sent his condolences to Iran.
Qays al-Khazali, the head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq armed faction, said, "All fighters should be on high alert for upcoming battle and great victory."
"The end of Israel and removal of the US from the region will be the result of the assassination of Soleimani and Muhandis," he said in a statement published by Iraqi media.
Pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar: 'It is war'
Lebanese pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar is leading with a comment by its contributor Hassan Alaiq on the killing of Soleimani.
The Arabic article has a simple headline: The martyrdom of Soleimani: It is war.
Khamenei warns of harsh revenge
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for three days of mourning, saying Major General Soleimani's killing will double the motivation of the resistance against the US and Israel.
According to Iranian state television, Khamenei said harsh revenge awaits ‘criminals’ who killed Soleimani.
We will take vigorous revenge: Iran
"He joined his martyred brothers, but we will take vigorous revenge on America," Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who is now the secretary of a powerful state body, said in a post on Twitter.
Democrats: Strikes not authorised by Congress
US Democratic congressional leaders issued statements condemning President Donald Trump's ordered strikes that killed Soleimani, saying the president did not obtain the congressional approval.
"American leaders' highest priority is to protect American lives and interests. But we cannot put the lives of American servicemembers, diplomats and others further at risk by engaging in provocative and disproportionate actions," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
US Congress members react to Iraq strikes
Several members of Congress took to Twitter to react to Trump-ordered raids that killed Soleimani. Republicans praised the move, while many Democrats questioned the US president's ability to order such an attack.
Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren said: "Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict. Our priority must be to avoid another costly war."
Iran's Zarif: US 'act of terrorism ... is foolish escalation'
Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Twitter that the US ‘bears responsibility or all consequences’ of its attack killing Soleimani.
‘The US' act of international terrorism, targeting and assassinating General Soleimani - The most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al - is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation," Zarif tweeted. "The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism."
The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.
'US and Israeli enemy responsible'
Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesman for the PMF blamed the US and Israel for Friday's strikes. "The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
