U.S. President Donald Trump is defending the U.S. airstrike that killed one of Iran’s most powerful generals, brushing aside threats from Tehran that it will exact a harsh revenge.
In his first comments since defense officials confirmed the U.S. carried out the airstrike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq early Friday (local time), Trump blamed the Quds Force commander for the deaths of thousands of Americans, and said the strike was long overdue.

“General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more,” Trump tweeted Friday.  
“Soleimani was both hated and feared,” the president added. “He should have been taken out many years ago!”

General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more…but got caught! He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

….of PROTESTERS killed in Iran itself. While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country. They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe. He should have been taken out many years ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020
Earlier Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN Iran and Soleimani had given Washington little choice.
“He was actively plotting in the region to take actions — a big action, as he described it — that would have put dozens, if not hundreds, of American lives at risk,” Pompeo said of the Quds Force commander. “We know it was imminent.” 
Pentagon officials confirmed the strike on Soleimani in a statement late Thursday (local time), saying the action was carried out on Trump’s order.
It further described the strike as a “decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad,” and warned, “The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.”

   Mehdi Parpanchi, director of RFE/RL’s Persian Service, discusses the killing of Qasem Soleimani video player.

In the days leading up to the strike on Soleimani, the U.S. has brushed off concerns that escalating tensions could lead to war.
“I don’t think Iran would want that to happen. It would go very quickly,” President Trump told reporters Tuesday.
Still, defense officials have been preparing for new attacks.
The U.S. has already deployed 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to help bolster the defense of U.S. bases and personnel in the region.  Defense officials said Thursday more troops would be sent as needed.
VOA’s VOA Persian Service and White House Correspondent Steve Herman contributed to this report.

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