General Qassem Soleimani
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Verified General Qassem Soleimani was commander of Iran's Quds Force. He was killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.
Their Story
Qassem Soleimani was born on March 11, 1957, in Qanat-e Malek, a village in Iran's Kerman Province. He left school to work as a laborer before joining the newly formed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after the 1979 revolution. His military career was defined by the Iran-Iraq War, where he served as a soldier and later a commander, reportedly organizing operations behind Iraqi lines.
In the early hours of January 3, 2020, Soleimani arrived at Baghdad International Airport. He had traveled from Syria and was met by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a senior Iraqi militia commander. As their two-car convoy departed the airport, it was struck by missiles fired from a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone. The attack killed Soleimani, al-Muhandis, and at least eight others.
The strike occurred amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. U.S. officials stated the operation was authorized in response to an alleged Iranian-backed attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad days earlier and to deter future attacks. The Quds Force, which Soleimani led, is a branch of the IRGC responsible for extraterritorial military and clandestine operations.
The killing triggered immediate reactions. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed "severe revenge." Five days later, Iran launched ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. In Iraq, parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for the expulsion of U.S. forces. Hundreds of thousands of people attended Soleimani's funeral processions in Iraq and Iran.
In Iran, Soleimani was officially declared a national martyr. His image remains prominent in public spaces and official media. Analysts note his two-decade leadership of the Quds Force significantly shaped Iran's regional network of allied militias, a strategic policy that continues.
Explore Further
General Qassem Soleimani was killed during US Assassination of Soleimani (ongoing since January 2020). The conflict is ongoing. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Jan 2020