Iraqis walk at Baghdad's Tahrir Square on January 3, 2020. (AFP)
Washington: The US Pentagon announced Friday that the killing of Qassem Soleimani was done at the direction of US President Donald Trump.
A statement from the Pentagon said that the strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans and added that the United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect its people and interests around the world.
"General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more," the statement said.
Iraqi television announced earlier today that Soleimani and Deputy Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis were killed in an airstrike that targeted their vehicles near Baghdad International Airport.
