Assassination of Qasem Soleimani

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
Title	Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
Caption	Qasem Soleimani in 2018
Date	3 January 2020
Location	Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq
Target	Qasem Soleimani
Type	targeted killing
Fatalities	Qasem Soleimani and others
Perpetrators	United States Department of Defense (reported)

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani

The targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, occurred on 3 January 2020 near Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. The strike, conducted by a United States Air Force MQ-9 Reaper-delivered missile, killed Soleimani alongside senior figures from the Popular Mobilization Forces such as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, precipitating immediate diplomatic, military, and legal crises involving actors including the White House, the Iranian Armed Forces, the Iraqi Parliament, and international organizations like the United Nations.

Background

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Qasem Soleimani emerged as a central figure in Iranian regional policy, commanding the Quds Force during conflicts including the Syrian Civil War, the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), and interventions against ISIL. His relationships with leaders such as Bashar al-Assad, Nouri al-Maliki, and Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah underscored Tehran’s influence across Levantine and Mesopotamian theaters. Tensions with the United States and allies including Israel and Saudi Arabia escalated after the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA under President Donald Trump, subsequent sanctions, and incidents such as the 2019–2020 Persian Gulf crisis, attacks on Persian Gulf shipping near Strait of Hormuz, and assaults on U.S. military bases in Iraq including alleged strikes attributed to Iranian-backed militias like Kata'ib Hezbollah. Prior confrontations involved actors including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon, and regional security institutions like the Baghdad Operations Command.

Strike and Immediate Aftermath

On 3 January 2020, U.S. Northern Command-coordinated strikes near Baghdad International Airport used air-to-ground missile weaponry to target a convoy associated with Soleimani and leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Reports from agencies such as the Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and state outlets like IRNA described multiple fatalities and chaotic scenes. The U.S. Department of Defense stated the operation was authorized by the White House citing imminent threats to American personnel, while Iranian officials including Ali Khamenei and Hassan Rouhani condemned the action as an act of war. The Baghdad strike led to security alerts at foreign missions including the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and mobilization by regional forces such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and elements of the Iraqi Security Forces.

International and Regional Reactions

Reactions spanned capitals from Washington, D.C. to Tehran, with responses from international bodies including the United Nations Security Council and states such as Russia, China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The Iraqi Parliament voted to expel foreign troops, prompting discussions with NATO representatives and coalition partners including Australia, Canada, Italy, and Poland. Regional militias and proxies—associates of Hezbollah, Hashd al-Shaabi, Houthis, and PKK affiliates—reacted with demonstrations and threats. International legal scholars at institutions such as Harvard University, Columbia University, and Oxford University debated the strike’s conformity with instruments like the United Nations Charter and customary international law, while human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued statements.

Legal and Political Implications

The operation prompted legal scrutiny in forums including the International Court of Justice and domestic venues such as the U.S. Congress, which held hearings with officials from the Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, and the State Department. Debates invoked U.S. statutes including the War Powers Resolution and constitutional authorities of the President of the United States versus congressional prerogatives, while Iranian legal claims referenced the UN Charter and self-defense doctrines. The incident influenced proceedings in national judiciaries in Iraq and diplomatic avenues such as the International Criminal Court dialogues. Politically, it reshaped campaigns and positions for figures like Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Mike Pompeo, and Bernie Sanders, affecting legislative votes on authorizations of force and sanctions administered by entities such as the U.S. Treasury Department.

Impact on Iran–United States Relations

The strike marked a severe nadir in Iran–United States relations, prompting reciprocal rhetoric from leaders including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Donald Trump. Iran signaled escalatory measures including withdrawal from JCPOA limits and threats against U.S. bases in regions like Al Asad Airbase in Iraq and installations in Syria. Subsequent diplomatic contacts involved intermediaries such as Oman and the Swiss Confederation as protecting power, while states like Iraq attempted mediation. The episode complicated negotiations with European External Action Service envoys and impeded multilateral efforts involving the European Union, UN Special Representative for Iraq, and regional dialogues including the Ankara process.

Subsequent Developments and Retaliation

On 8 January 2020, Iranian forces conducted missile strikes against Al Asad Airbase and a base in Erbil in reprisal, resulting in traumatic brain injuries among U.S. service members and prompting medical evacuations to facilities including Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Nonconventional responses included alleged cyber operations attributed to Iranian-linked actors targeting institutions in Israel and the United States, and retaliatory or proxy attacks on facilities in Iraq, Syria, and maritime routes near the Red Sea. The cycle of escalation affected diplomatic initiatives including renewed JCPOA talks, sanctions escalations by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and strategic reassessments by NATO and coalition partners. Legal cases, parliamentary inquiries in Baghdad, and commemorations in Tehran and allied movements such as Hezbollah continued to shape the long-term regional order, influencing events through 2020–2021 involving figures like Ebrahim Raisi and ongoing tensions with successive U.S. administrations.

Category:2020 in international relations Category:Events in Baghdad