Photos and videos show the aftermath of the US rocket strike that took out Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani
This video, shared by Iran state-owned Press TV, shows the wrecked convoy in which Soleimani travelled near Baghdad International Airport early on Friday morning local time.
US officials told Reuters the strike was carried out by a drone, and that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), was also killed.
Those protesting the Iraqi regime celebrated in Baghdad on Thursday night.
Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020But in Tehran, anti-American protesters took to the streets ...
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, a longtime critic of US foreign policy in the region, sharply criticized the strike on Friday, calling it "extremely dangerous" and a "foolish escalation."
Source: Business Insider
#EXCLUSIVE : Anti-American Demonstrations are taking place in #Iran's capital city #Tehran and condemning the killing of Qassem Soleimani. pic.twitter.com/3NFX9Aef7Y
— Kapil Patil (@Kapil_Patils) January 3, 2020Soleimani was considered a hero by many Iranians.
Iranians from different walks of life take to streets to mourn martyrdom of General Soleimani who was assassinated in #Iraq by the US military.#Iran #قاسم_سليماني#QasemSoleimani#GeneralSoleimani pic.twitter.com/uuhQzOyCgL
— Press TV (@PressTV) January 3, 2020Iran's leader of Friday prayers Ayatollah Seyyed Khatami focused his televised worship on Soleimani's death, and warned the US that it had made a grave error.
"Americans should know that they have not achieved victory, rather, they have come closer to a collapse," he said.
"I announce that Americans will not find peace anywhere in the world."
LIVE: #Tehran's Friday Prayers leader Khatami comments on assassination of Lt. Gen. Soleimani https://t.co/L0jUAqq0HN
— Press TV (@PressTV) January 3, 2020At around 1 p.m. local time on Friday, the US embassy in Baghdad urged all US citizens to leave Iraq immediately.
تنبيه أمني - سفارة الولايات المتحدة في بغداد، العراق، 3 كانون الثاني 2020
Security Alert – U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq, January 3, 2020https://t.co/3Cd1N4x6b9
This video shows the moment the spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ramezan Sharif, breaks down on live TV while announcing Soleimani's passing.
Here's the moment an Iranian TV presenter and the IRGC spokesman broke down earlier today. #Soleimani #Iran pic.twitter.com/PdRmqsFAUH
— BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) January 3, 2020Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei ordered three days of mourning in a tweet on Friday afternoon.
The Iranian nation will honor the memory of the noble Major-General Soleimani & the martyrs with him—particularly the great Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis— & I declare 3 days of mourning across the nation. I condole & congratulate his family. /5
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
Jan 3, 2020
Soleimani's second in command, brigadier general Esmail Qaani, was named as the new head of the IRGC.
Source: FARS
Iranian newspapers do not publish Friday editions, because it is a holy day in Islam, but Saturday's editions will likely carry more images and reactions to the strike.
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