Iran mourns on Monday as its military commander Qassem Soleimani got killed in the US carried airstrikes. Soleimani was 62 years old and was a national hero in Iran.
Soleimani was widely named as the second most powerful leader in Iran after Khamenei. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader wept in grief on Monday during the prayers offered in Tehran for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
The United States President, Donald Trump has announced that Drone attacks were carried out by the Pentagon based on his orders. for the past few days, the war of words is being exchanged between the two country top leaders through social media platforms.
Earlier Trump warned Iran of carrying out attacks on its 52 sites which includes its cultural sites if retaliation takes place. Trump also rejected Iran Foreign minister’s Visa application which was applied for attending the United Nations meeting.
However, Trump’s warnings have lost the sanctity as the Pentagon has distanced itself for further course of attacks declared by him. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has categorically stated that the U.S. will follow the international laws of armed conflict. Attacking cultural sites is prohibited internationally.
But, these warnings seem no impact on Iranian administrators. Iran President Hassan Rouhani has stated that no one can threaten his country and retaliation will take place.
Soleimani’s successor has already announced that he would expel the US forces from the Middle East. Adding strength to this, Iraq’s caretaking Prime Minister has also asked the US forces to evacuate from its land. Presently, around 5,000 U.S. armed forces are deployed in Iraq in the name of safeguarding peace in the region. Iraq’s Parliament has also voted against the deployment of the U.S forces in its territory.
One of the contradictions aroused as the U.S denying from its previous stand of withdrawing forces from Iraq. Now, the top US military general states that the pull-out letter was a mistake.