Qassem Soleimani: Trump tweets image of US flag as Pentagon confirms it killed Quds Force leader
For once, Mr Trump’s tweet contained no words
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has responded on Twitter to US officials confirming the assassination of a top Iranian general, simply by tweeting an image of an American flag.
Late on Thursday, the Pentagon said in a statement that it had carried out airstrikes against Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
The operation also killed the leader of a key Iraqi militia force, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was travelling with Soleimani at the time.
“At the direction of the president, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation,” said the statement.
“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.”
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday the assassination of Soleimani was “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation”.
“The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” he said.
The president, who is currently at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, did not make any official comment or statement, as some had predicted.
However, at almost precisely the moment the Pentagon confirmed it was behind the strike at Iraq’s Baghdad airport, Mr Trump tweeted an image of a US flag.
For once, Mr Trump’s post contained no words.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments