IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. Photo courtesy of IRNA. US President Donald Trump is reported to have ordered the attack that killed Soleimani. Photo courtesy of IRNA.
TEHRAN, Jan 3 (NNN-IRNA) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has announced three days of public mourning following the assassination of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani.
The message came following the death of Soleimani and the acting commander of the volunteer Iraqi Shia Forces, known as the Deputy Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (the Hash al-Shaabi) Abu Mahdi Al-Mohandes.
In a message on Friday, the Supreme Leader said that he announced three days of public mourning.
He also extended his condolences to the martyred commander’s spouse and children.
The IRGC commander and Al-Mohandes were separately leaving Baghdad airport in two cars early Friday morning when they were targeted and assassinated.
Major General Soleimini is said to have arrived at the airport from Lebanon.
Iraqi media said the US helicopters targeted both cars.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that President Donald Trump had ordered the airstrike at Baghdad International Airport that killed Qasem Soleimani,.
Trump is reported to have said that it was a “decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad” and was intended to deter “future Iranian attack plans, according to CNN, which quoted the Pentagon.
