- Title: US confirms it kills Soleimani; Trump tweets American flag
- Date: 3rd January 2020
- Summary: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (JANUARY 02, 2020) (REUTERS) STATEMENT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READING (English): "At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region." STATEMENT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READING (English): "This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world."
- Embargoed: 17th January 2020 03:30
- Keywords: Donald Trump Iranian Major-General Iraq Qassem Soleimani Quds Force blast
- Location: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION / INTERNET
- City: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION / INTERNET
- Country: USA
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001BUMBG3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A U.S. strike killed Iran Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani, the Pentagon said on Thursday (January 02), adding that Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack Americans in Iraq and the Middle East.
"At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani," a Pentagon statement said.
"This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," it said, adding that the United States would continue to take necessary action to protect Americans and interests around the world.
U.S. President Donald Trump has so far not commented on the strike, only posting an image of the American flag on his Twitter account.
(Production: Bob Mezan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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