Donald Trump Tweets US Flag As Pentagon Confirms Killing Iran's General Soleimani In Baghdad

Pentagon and the White House have officially confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iran’s high-profile General in an airstrike in Baghdad on Friday morning. In a statement, the White House said that, “At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.” The Department of Defense added that, "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."

Later, Donald Trump took to Twitter and tweeted the US national flag without any caption. Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley lauded Trump’s action. “Qassem Soleimani was an arch terrorist with American blood on his hands. His demise should be applauded by all who seek peace and justice. Proud of President Trump for doing the strong and right thing,” Haley said on Twitter while tagging Trump.

Lindsey Graham, close Trump ally, has also backed the US President. “Thank you, Mr. President, for standing up for America. This action by President Trump and our military was in direct response to Iranian aggression orchestrated by General Soleimani and his proxies. If Iran continues to attack America and our allies, they should pay the heaviest of prices, which includes the destruction of their oil refineries. To the Iranian government: If you want to stay in the oil business leave America and our allies alone and stop being the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world,” Graham tweeted.

Tensions have ratcheted up in the restive region with many pointing out that Iran won’t take it lightly. Many experts have warned that this act would mean war between Iran and the US. Some commentators have also said that the attack was no preventive action. They say that it was a deviation tactic by Trump to shift focus from the impending impeachment trial.

The oil prices soared more than four per cent Friday following Soleimani’s assassination.

Brent surged 4.4 per cent to USD 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 per cent to 63.84. The head of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad international airport early Friday, according to Hased, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.