Breaking: Both @AlMayadeenNews & #Iraqi TV confirm the assassination of #IRGC #Quds Force commander, #Qasem_Soleimani & commander of #Iraq's #PMU (Hashd al-Shaabi), #Abu_Mahdi_al_Muhandis .
#Iraq #العراق
#Iraq #العراق
.4/ News that #Hadi_Alameri and #Qais_Alkhazali being captured by US troops in Iraq are FALSE!!!!!
.5/ Corrected :
There is no question that this is beyond an escalation by the US. If anything, this is both an act & a declaration of war by the US .
Very dangerous & sensitive times ahead.
There is no question that this is beyond an escalation by the US. If anything, this is both an act & a declaration of war by the US .
Very dangerous & sensitive times ahead.
.6/ The Pentagon statement says that "at the direction of the President " the United States has killed #Qasem_Soleimani. So, did #Trump order this without congressional approval?
.7/ It is incredibly naive to compare Soleimani’s killing, to that of #OsamaBinLaden or #Baghdadi. There is no comparison. This is way more significant & of graver consequences.
.8/ In effect, this was not just an attack on #Soleimani himself, but given his prominence, this will be seen as a direct attack on Iran’s supreme leader, the IRCG & the elite Qods forces. That’s how grave this is.
.10/ No, Iran’s response will most certainly not be immediate, and it’s reprisals won’t come in traditional warfare style.
.11/ There is no question that the killing of #Soleimani is a huge blow to both Iran & it’s allies in the region, but it is definitely not the end of the IRGC or the Qods force. Soleimani’s is replaceable. History is testament to this.
.12/ From a statement by #Iran’s Supreme leader Sayyed Ali #Khameini following #Soleimani’s assassination:
“A harsh reprisal awaits the criminals.”
In other words, the highest power in #Iran has taken the decision to retaliate. It’s now just a matter of when & how.
“A harsh reprisal awaits the criminals.”
In other words, the highest power in #Iran has taken the decision to retaliate. It’s now just a matter of when & how.
.13/ Some sleep beckon. More later.
./15 A small reminder @realDonaldTrump. 
.17/ While #Iran will decide on its own specific targets & form of retaliation, a different danger comes from elements who cannot be controlled & who will take matters in2 their own hands. No state of the art machinery is needed here, they will use very basic, but lethal tactics.
.18/ Deja Vu.
.19/ As I mentioned earlier, #Qais_Al_Khazali was not captured by #US troops as many circulated previously.
Instead, a hand written statement by him orders #Asaib_Ahl_Al_Haq to prepare for the "coming battle" & to “expel all US troops from Iraq.”
Instead, a hand written statement by him orders #Asaib_Ahl_Al_Haq to prepare for the "coming battle" & to “expel all US troops from Iraq.”
.20/ “By assassinating them, not only has the U.S simply changed the rules of engagement or fired the first shot, effectively giving Iran the right to retaliate and avenge this injustice. It has rendered its entire presence in the Middle East vulnerable.”
ahtribune.com/world/north-af…
ahtribune.com/world/north-af…
.21/ The ambassador of #Switzerland, who represents #US interests in #Iran, was summoned by #Tehran earlier on.
The #Swiss ambassador is also said to have relayed messages from the US, to Iran’s leadership following the assasination of #Soleimani.
The #Swiss ambassador is also said to have relayed messages from the US, to Iran’s leadership following the assasination of #Soleimani.
.22/ #Suleimani may have, with his death, already have achieved the greatest revenge of all, and without firing a single bullet: namely, his ultimate objective of ending the #US military presence in #Iraq.
By @mashabani
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
By @mashabani
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
.23/ “If he was indeed behind the attack on the #US military base that ultimately precipitated his own assassination, then he has likely succeeded in trapping the US into initiating its own ejection from #Iraq.”@mashabani
.24/ “For all his crowing about the decisive blow dealt to an insolent enemy, #Trump may be about to discover that the problem with martyrs is that they live forever.” @mashabani
.26/ ”America must recognise it has committed its biggest strategic folly in west Asia & the US will not easily escape from the repercussions of its miscalculations. ”
.27/ ”As the supreme leader said, a ferocious reprisal awaits the perpetrators, whose hands are bloodtsianed with Soleimahi’s blood.”
.28/ ”We make public that the American administration will be responsible for the consequences of this criminal adventure.”
The above point is to convey that any reprisals will solely be taken against American interests (excluding western countries.)
The above point is to convey that any reprisals will solely be taken against American interests (excluding western countries.)
.29/ ”The criminals should expect severe retribution at the tight time and place.”
.33/ #Tehran apparently refused to receive a second letter, also from #Trump & sent with an Arab mediator who arrived to Iran this morning, Musawi told @AlMayadeenLive.
.34/ The former Iranian diplomat, Amir Musawi, also told @AlMayadeenLive that the ”surprises” will become apparent in “Iran’s deterrent reprisals.”
“Americans should prepare for surprises, in response to the assassination of General #Soleimani & #AlMohandis.”
“Americans should prepare for surprises, in response to the assassination of General #Soleimani & #AlMohandis.”
.35/ continued thread:
Post #Suleimani & #Al_Muhandis assassinations.
A mammoth funeral procession of #AbuMehdi_AlMuhandis today.
Photos via @iraqitweet this morning from #Alkadhimiya district in #Baghdad.
Post #Suleimani & #Al_Muhandis assassinations.
A mammoth funeral procession of #AbuMehdi_AlMuhandis today.
Photos via @iraqitweet this morning from #Alkadhimiya district in #Baghdad.
.36/ Probably one of the largest funeral processions #Baghdad has seen since the invasion in 2003! Via @iraqitweet
.37/ When the #US assassinated #AlMuhandis, it did not just kill “a pro-Iranian” leader; Whatever his affiliations, he was an #Iraqi 1st & foremost & in death, a revered Iraqi leader amongst his people; one who served his country in leading battles against #Isis. Via @iraqitweet
.38/ The procession of the two slain leaders #GenSoleimani & #AlMuhandis travel through #Iraq’s capital #Baghdad.
.40/ Lest we forget history, in 2003 the #US invasion of #Iraq to remove #SaddamHussein, delivered the country to #Iran on a golden platter.
17 years later & another US folly, this time apparently aimed at curtailing Iranian influence, will instead see the US driven out.
17 years later & another US folly, this time apparently aimed at curtailing Iranian influence, will instead see the US driven out.
.41/ Iraqi military helicopter bringing the two coffins of General #Sulaimani & #AlMuhandis to the holy city of #Karbala, en route to #Najaf. Via @iraqitweet
.42/ Once in #Najaf, #AlMuhandis’s body will be laid to rest in the Valley of Peace cemetery, the largest graveyard in the world, whilst Gen #Soleimani’s body will be flown from there to #Iran for his final burial.
.43/ Images of mourners in the holy city of #Karbala, as the coffins are brought through the holy shrine. Via @iraqitweet
.44/ The graves for #alMuhandis & the 4 other #Hashd members killed in the #US assasination await the dead, as do tens of 000 of mourners who traveled to the holy city of #Najaf, 140 kms south of #Baghdad, for the procession now arriving to its final destination.
Via @iraqitweet
Via @iraqitweet
.45/ The son of Sayyed #Sistani, #Iraq’s highest Shiite cleric, was in the holy city of #Najaf to welcome the funeral procession of #Iran’s military commander General #QassemSoleimani & #Iraqi #PMU leader #Abu_Mahdi_alMuhandis
Via @iraqitweet
Via @iraqitweet
