- Title: Workers clear debris from Soleimani attack site
- Date: 3rd January 2020
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JANUARY 3, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ROAD LEADING TO BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE IRAN'S QUDS FORCE LEADER QASSEM SOLEIMANI AND IRAQI MILITIA COMMANDER ABU MAHDI AL-MUHANDIS WERE KILLED/CARS DRIVING PAST DRIVING SHOT SCENE WHERE ATTACK HAPPENED/ WORKERS CLEARING AWAY DEBRIS AND BULLDOZER REMOVING WRECKAGE ROAD LEADING TO AIRPORT MILITARY VEHICLES STOPPED ALONG ROAD EXTERIOR OF BAGHDAD AIRPORT SIGN READING (Arabic) ''BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT' VARIOUS DRIVING SHOTS OF SCENE OF ATTACK SLOW MOTION REPEAT OF SHOT 2 (MUTE) SLOW MOTION REPEAT OF SHOT 3 (MUTE) SLOW MOTION REPEAT OF SHOT 7 (MUTE)
- Embargoed: 17th January 2020 12:03
- Keywords: Baghdad Iran. Iraq President Trump Qassem Soleimani USA air strike attack scene
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001BUMD0ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Workers in Baghdad began clearing debris near the city's international airport following an air strike that killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on Friday (January 3).
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Soleimani was killed in a drone strike. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said he was killed in an attack by U.S. helicopters.
The overnight attack happened on a road leading to Baghdad International Airport, near the air cargo terminal and burned two vehicles. Workers were seen clearing the wreckage from the scene.
The strike, authorised by President Donald Trump, marked a dramatic escalation in a "shadow war" in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and its allies, principally Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Iran has been locked in a long conflict with the United States that escalated sharply last week with an attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq by pro-Iranian militiamen following a U.S. air raid on the Kataib Hezbollah militia, founded by Muhandis.
Responding to the strike, Iraq's prime minister said Washington had violated a deal for keeping U.S. troops in his country. Israel put its army on high alert and U.S. allies in Europe including Britain, France and Germany voiced concerns about an escalation in tensions.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad urged all American citizens to depart Iraq immediately.
(Production: Haider Kadhim, Maher Nazeh, Mohammed Kaftan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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