Another narrative on the lead up on the Mahandis/Soleimani hit with Mohandis being downplayed as being important but confusion over Soleimani's location and agenda.
Rukmini provides insight into how hobbled U.S. forces are (now expelled) in Iraq and that they are co-located with Shia militias. What is missing is hostility between the U.S./Israel and the PMU/Mohandis for this summer's Israeli strikes on the PMU. bbc.com/news/world-mid…
The PMU is our enemy and ally in Iraq. "Al-Muhandis, who once battled U.S. troops in Iraq, also commands the feared Hezbollah Brigades faction, which has close ties to Iran and is on a U.S. list of designated terrorists." militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-…
Not only did the shia PMU operate outside the Iraqi government, they were growing stronger. They even had their their own soccer club and were trying to figure to how to stand up an air force. The U.S. is busy in Kurdistan against IS ergo the attack there. southfront.org/iraqi-pmu-form…
The closest Reaper was 706 miles away in Al-Udeid Air Base in Doha. Over three hours away even if you use the 200mph top cruising speed. Soleimani left Damascus at 10:30pm on Sham Air a 1:05 min flight. middleeasteye.net/news/tracked-t…
Sham Air touched down at 12:32. (Iraq is one hour ahead) Drone hit at 1:45 a full hour later. Drones would be deployed because of Embassy riots and security. But backup drone was on its way. So only one? This indicates a target of opportunity not planning theguardian.com/world/2020/jan…
From a former Iran hostage and Iraq based diplomat on secondary effects on targets of opportunity. msnbc.com/david-gura/wat…
