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Quite a number of people are aware of the killing of an Iranian General and there have been fear of how this could escalate into a full blown war!
What You Need to Know
President Trump ordered an airstrike on Thursday evening that killed the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, a man he said was "plotting imminent and sinister attacks" against Americans in the region.
Soleimani was the leader of the Quds Force, a covert section of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The White House says he was the mastermind behind attacks on Americans during the past two decades — including two recent attacks.
Trump said Friday he was not seeking regime change, but ordered the attack to protect Americans. "Under my leadership, America's policy is unambiguous: To terrorists who harm or intend to harm any American, we will find you; we will eliminate you," he said.
The White House has kept a close hold on many details of what led up to the decision to kill Soleimani. Here's what is known from public accounts.
Friday, Dec. 27: Attack near Kirkuk
Militia group Kataib Hezbollah attacks the K1 military base near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk with rockets, killing an American contractor and wounding several American and Iraqi personnel. Kataib Hezbollah has ties to Iran. It has denied orchestrating the attack.
Sunday, Dec. 29: Trump orders some airstrikes
From Florida, Trump responds with an order for airstrikes in sections of Iraq and Syria where members of the militia group were reportedly located.
Tuesday, Dec. 31: Embassy compound stormed
On Tuesday morning, Iraqi supporters of Kataib Hezbollah begin storming the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The violence escalates, with militia members attempting to enter the embassy, starting fires and damaging the outside and a reception area of the embassy.
Trump has a meeting on the issue at his golf course, and speaks with the Iraqi prime minister. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham says Trump is getting regular updates. "As the president said, Iran is orchestrating this attack and they will be held fully responsible," she said. "It will be the president's choice how and when we respond to their escalation."
Later on Tuesday, Trump threatens Iran.
Thursday, Jan. 2:
there are reports of a strike near the Baghdad airport and early reports Soleimani was killed.
Eventually, the US confirms the events, writing that Soleimani was "actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region."
The statement also said Soleimani had orchestrated attacks on bases and approved the attack on the embassy, adding, "this strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans."
Friday, Jan. 3: Trump defends decision; world reacts
Trump first addresses Soleimani's killing by tweet, saying the general had been "plotting to kill many more" Americans.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened “severe retaliation” against the “criminals” who killed Soleimani, whose public profile had risen over the past decade as Tehran fought alongside Syrian and Iraqi troops to beat back anti-government forces in both those countries.
Khamenei declared three days of national mourning.
