Iran has pinpointed 35 key US targets for revenge after its top general, Qasem Soleimani was assassinated even as President Donald Trump Hours late
Iran has pinpointed 35 key US targets for revenge after its top general, Qasem Soleimani was assassinated even as President Donald Trump
Hours later, rockets were fired near the US Embassy in Baghdad and at an airbase housing American troops, according to reports. The two attacks came just hours after mourners chanted “death to America” at the funeral of top Iranian general.
There are not believed to be any injuries after the rockets fell at the embassy compound – in the Iraqi capital’s green zone – and near Iraq’s Balad airbase. Missiles also rained down on Baghdad’s Jadriya neighbourhood – wounding five people, police said.
Hezbollah, the Islamic political and militant group has warned Iraqi soldiers to stay at least 1,000 meters away from American military bases from Sunday onwards.
Also, a chilling flag has been hoisted above the important Jamkaran Mosque which is on the outskirts of the holy city of Qom, about 100 miles south of Tehran. It took to the skies as General Qasem Soleimani’s daughter pleaded with the Iranian president to strike back over her father’s death.
Red flags in Shiite tradition symbolise both blood spilled unjustly and serve as a call to avenge a person who is slain. Chillingly written across the war flag were the words: “Those who want to avenge the blood of Hussein”.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has warned Iran that if it retaliates for the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, it will face U.S. attacks on 52 targets, a number he said was symbolic. The president tweeted that the number of targets matched the number of hostages held by Iran in 1979 when 52 American diplomats and citizens were held for 444 days.
“Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have………targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD,” he said. “The USA wants no more threats!”
Trump’s tweet was vaguely worded, but the United Nations Security Council appears to suggest the targeting of cultural heritage sites is prohibited.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded earlier, accusing Trump of threatening a “war crime” and breaching the norms of international law.
