When Will Iran Avenge The Killing Of Qassem Soleimani? .. International Newspapers Are RespondingIran is preparing to take revenge for Qassem Soleimani

[yota691]

 

When Will Iran Avenge The Killing Of Qassem Soleimani? .. International Newspapers Are RespondingIran is preparing to take revenge for Qassem Soleimani

 

On November 20, 2020

Qassem Soleimani

 

An American newspaper published on Friday morning discussed the file of the escalating tension in US-Iranian relations as US President Donald Trump's term neared its end, stressing that Iran is planning to avenge the killing of Qassem Soleimani in Africa.

 

The Economist said that Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif did not rule out the possibility of Iran's retaliation against the United States , which assassinated Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in a drone raid on his convoy near Baghdad airport last January.

The magazine quoted Zarif as saying, “I am not in a position to make threats,” but he added, “But the files have not been closed yet.”

The Economist added, in a report published today, Friday: “Since President Trump issued his orders to assassinate Soleimani, Western spies have been on alert in preparation for the expected Iranian retaliation. Some believe that the strike may be in Africa, where Iran spent many years in Building clandestine networks, in places where they are not under intense scrutiny from local governments. ”

The magazine went on to say: “Iran has a long history of conspiracy and failure in the African continent. In 2013, the Nigerian police arrested three Lebanese and uncovered a weapons depot in the city of Kano. Another Western in Nigeria ”.

The Economist indicated that another plot to attack the Israeli embassy in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, was exposed in 2012.

 

She said: “A report issued by the UN Security Council accused Ismail Djeda, who was arrested in Chad in November 2019, of assisting the Quds Force recruitment unit and training terrorist cells in the Central African Republic, Chad and Sudan in order to attack Western, Israeli and Saudi targets.”

The Economist quoted a Western intelligence source as saying that the police in Niger recently arrested a man who confessed to working in the “400 unit” of the Quds Force that specializes in covert operations. Sudan.

The magazine concluded its report by saying: “Current and former Western intelligence officials confirmed this general pattern of covert Iranian activity in Africa, and one of them indicated that Tehran is trying to spread its wings as far as possible, and is exploiting some internal agents to work for it, which raises questions: Does it work Are they in order to avenge the killing of Soleimani? Or do they want to make headlines? And they chose Africa. Because it is easy to work there. ”

The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), former Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari , had warned of the “worst scenario” that Baghdad may witness with the arrival of the first anniversary of the killing of the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.

"The missile attacks that targeted the Green Zone in Baghdad recently are a dangerous escalation by armed groups," Zebari said in a tweet in English that he posted on Twitter.

"The worst will come on the first anniversary of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis on January 3," he added, noting that "the Iraqi government should be prepared for the worst scenario."

[yota691]

 

America threatens to respond to any attack by Iran on the anniversary of Soleimani's death

 

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 2020-12-20 18:42

 

Shafaq News / The commander of the American forces in the Middle East, General Frank MacKenzie, said during a tour in the region that his country is "ready to respond" if Iran attacked it on the first anniversary of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

"We are ready to defend ourselves and our friends and allies in the region, and we are ready to respond if necessary," the commander of the US Central Command (SANTCOM) told a limited number of journalists.

"I see that we are in a very good position and that we will be ready, whatever the Iranians and their allies decide to do," he added by phone from an unspecified location in the region.

The commander of "Santecom" confirmed that he visited Baghdad, where he met with the commander of the international coalition forces, American General Paul Calvert, and the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yar Allah.

He reported that he had also visited Syria to meet with US forces at the Al-Tanf base (south) located in the border triangle with Jordan and Iraq.

This tour has not been announced in advance, which is an indication that American officials fear that Iran will retaliate against the prominent general, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a raid by an American drone near Baghdad Airport on January 3, 2020.

 

Although the US military continues to reduce the number of its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, under the direction of President Donald Trump, to reach 2,500 personnel in each of the two countries by January 15, the Ministry of Defense has strengthened its position in the vicinity of Iraq to deter Iran from attacking its forces.

The USS Nimitz has been in Gulf waters since the end of November, and two American B-52 bombers have recently flown in the region in a show of force directed at Iran and its allies.

On Sunday, the vicinity of the US embassy in Baghdad was targeted with missiles, which caused material damage to a residential complex.

The embassy also said in a statement that its compound suffered "minor" damage.

This is the third attack against US military and diplomatic installations since the start of a "truce" with Iraqi factions loyal to Iran in October that put an end to dozens of rocket and IED attacks against the US embassy and other foreign military and diplomatic sites since fall 2019.

[KDuesing]

And when will Iraq avenge all the killings of Iraqis killed by Soleimani?

[yota691]

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior reveals a plot to target an American base in memory of the assassination of Sulaymani

http://media.akhbar-alkhaleej.com/source/15618/images/13.jpg

Baghdad - Dr. Hamid Abdullah:
Saturday 26 December 2020 - 02:00

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior revealed a document it obtained from elements belonging to one of the armed groups containing a plot to target an American base in Iraq.

The ministry said that the leaked document indicates the existence of a plan drawn up by one of the armed factions to target the American Victoria base near Baghdad International Airport with high-tech missiles.

She indicated that the timing of the attack was set on January 3, 2021, the first anniversary of the assassination of the commander of the Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, explaining that the area from which the missiles are to be launched is the Sheikha area of Abu Ghraib district, and the document did not specify the parties intending to launch the missile attack on the military base American.

According to sources in the ministry, the Minister of Interior, Othman Al-Ghanmi, directed to take the most severe measures to prevent the attack, while a force from the ministry explored the Sheikha area to find the distance between it and the headquarters of the American base to find out the range of missiles that are to be used in this operation.

The sources also indicate that the Ministry of Interior knows exactly who set this plan, but it avoids referring to it by name in order to avoid possible friction between the Iraqi government agencies and that armed party, and the Ministry was satisfied with describing those planning to launch missiles as "outlaws".

The leak of this document comes a few days after the US embassy was targeted by eight missiles launched from a suburb of Baghdad, but did not hit the embassy building due to the deterrent shield used by the US army against the missiles that target their headquarters.

An Iraqi security statement said that the rockets landed in residential neighborhoods, causing serious injuries to a soldier who was assigned a security duty in the area.

Security sources believe that it is likely that the missiles used by armed groups against diplomatic sites or military bases entered Iraq from Iran, or that they are hidden in places controlled by militias, and government forces cannot reach them.

 

[yota691]

 

 

Muqtada al-Sadr calls on Iran and America to keep military and viral conflicts away from Iraq

2 hours ago | Books: Khaled Al-Shami |

 

 

 

Muqtada al-Sadr - archive photoPhotography: Others

 

 

The leader of the Iraqi Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called on both Iran and the United States to keep the conflict from his country.

 

 

He added, through his Twitter account: “Beloved Iraq fell victim to the American-Iranian conflict, and was damaged in a way that cannot be tolerated, as if it was an arena for their military, security, political and viral conflicts, due to the weakness of the government and the dispersal of the people.”

 

 

He continued, “I call on the Republic of Iran, our dear neighbor, to distance Iraq from its conflicts and that we will not leave it in its intensity if Iraq and its government preserves its prestige and independence, warning America, which he described as the occupation, against its persistence in that conflict. Iraq and the Iraqis are not a party to a conflict, and we are in the process of building. Our beloved Iraq ».

 

 

He continued, "In the event of failure to respond, we will have a political and popular position to protect my people, my patriot, my sanctities, and myself from unacceptable interference in one way or another," adding that Iraq will not belong to anyone, whatever it is, and it is the true source of Shiism and the first source of resistance against the occupation.

 

•  

[nannab]

2 hours ago, yota691 said:

The leader of the Iraqi Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called on both Iran and the United States to keep the conflict from his country.

 

2 hours ago, yota691 said:

warning America, which he described as the occupation, against its persistence in that conflict. Iraq and the Iraqis are not a party to a conflict, and we are in the process of building. Our beloved Iraq ».

 

Oh shut up you you little twit!!!! 😛

 

Thank ya Yota  

[yota691]

December 26, 2020

Views:810

 

The memory of Soleimani threatens an Iranian-American confrontation

 

 

Khaled Jean Sees- As the anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the former general of the Quds Force approaches, Iranian-American tension is increasing day by day, as the US military announces its readiness for a possible military mission, while Tehran warns against responding forcefully. President Donald Trump accused Iran of being behind the missile attack on the US embassy in Baghdad days ago. Observers said, "President Donald Trump is trying to strain the atmosphere with Iran for other purposes, including implicating the new Biden administration in severe crises, and diverting attention from Trump's loss." The Iranian Foreign Ministry has warned the United States of stoking tension and committing any dangerous adventures in the final days of the Trump administration in the White House. She added, "Iran's response to the American measures will be clear and courageous." And on Wednesday, the US Army released a video clip, showing exercises being carried out by a Navy force, or the so-called "Marines", indicating that it is a kind of preparation and preparation for an upcoming operation. The sweep scenario Amid the mutual threats between Iran and America lies Iraq, whose authorities announced today that its capital is "Baghdad under control", but the successive data in the recent period indicate that the capital is far from control and security, as soon as the population exceeds their fears of missiles prolonged diplomatic missions Until a state of terror takes them again, as a result of militia threatening to invade the capital. The Iraqi authorities went out to reassure Baghdad that Baghdad is safe, after the deployment of armed men from the "Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq" militia, which is supported by Iran, after warnings issued by leaders of the "Asa'ib" about the possibility of strife and escalation in speech, against the background of the events in Baghdad, Friday night - Saturday, after a security force arrested a militia leader, Hussam Al-Azirjawi, and a number of his aides, east of Baghdad, on charges of being involved in the bombing of the Green Zone with "Katyusha" missiles, which prompted the government to reinforce the security of the capital with additional forces deployed in most areas. Citizen Asaad Al-Bayati, a resident of Baghdad, said, "The situation is very worrying, and the military deployment, and the talk about sedition and expected clashes raises the concerns of the people," indicating that "the problem with this tension is that the government does not have the control of matters, but rather tries to avoid clashes, at a time. It is not possible to control the loose factions ». He pointed out that "this situation will have serious repercussions, if the government is not able to impose the prestige of the state on the capital and end the armed manifestations", blaming the government "with the responsibility to provide protection for the people." Masked armed A video clip appeared on social networking sites showing masked gunmen threatening to target what they described as "America's agents." A masked gunman said that they were under the signal of "the leader of the Asa'ib, Prince Qais Khazali," as the militant said. Khazali had indicated the possibility of targeting the US embassy in Baghdad. He said, "The time for a response has not come yet." In response to the "Asaib" move, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi warned against pushing Iraq into a "absurd adventure", stressing that his government was ready for what he called "a decisive confrontation." Late at night, he conducted a tour of Baghdad, amid tight security deployment, trying to reassure citizens. When Al-Kazemi took office, many expected that his proximity to Washington and Tehran, and his background in intelligence, would help him give the city of Rashid peace and security, whose residents had needed them for years, except that the fragmentation of the state between a weak government and influential militias backed by Iran makes stability a distant dream. . Iraqi sources indicated that National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji and the head of the Al-Fateh coalition, Hadi Al-Amiri, intervened to calm the situation and warn of the seriousness of Al-Kazemi's threat, forcing Khazali to retreat and directing his gunmen not to escalate and withdraw from the streets, so that things would not get out of control. Al-Asaib announced after Al-Kazemi’s warning that it had decided to “give priority to the voice of reason and wisdom.” Khazali stated that the crisis between his movement and the government had ended, due to the arrest of a leader. He continued: "What happened from the arrest of a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces on a malicious charge was dealt with with reason and wisdom." And he added: "We renew our commitment to the state and its institutions, and at the same time, we affirm the right of the resistance to end the presence of American forces, while preserving the state's prestige by not targeting diplomatic missions." The "crowd" committee formed a committee to investigate the bombing of the Green Zone, on Sunday, and recommended the arrest of three, including a senior leader in the "Asaib". Al-Asaib stipulated that the authorities release their detainee within 48 hours, but Al-Kazemi refused to fulfill this request before the investigations were completed and the investigative judge’s decision regarding his fate was issued. 'Leaked plan' On a parallel level, Iraqi media reported what they said was a "leaked security document" about a plan by pro-Iranian militias to target an American base in Baghdad, in conjunction with the first anniversary of Soleimani's death. Local media published a copy of the document issued by the Ministry of the Interior, which talks about "the intention of outlaw elements to target an American military base near Baghdad airport with advanced missiles." The "document" claimed that the timing of the attack would be before the third day of next month, the same date on which Soleimani and the leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were killed during an American air strike near Baghdad airport, last year. She indicated that the perpetrators were planning to launch the attack from the Sheha area of Abu Ghraib district, adjacent to Baghdad airport. Submarines are moving For his part, the Israeli army confirmed, Friday, that Tel Aviv is monitoring Iran's movements in the region, expecting the danger to come from Iraq and Yemen, and confirming that the Israeli submarines are sailing to "various places, far and near." "Iran might attack Israel from Iraq or from Yemen," said Heday Zilberman, the Israeli army spokesman, adding, "We have information that Iran is developing drones and smart missiles there that can reach Israel." Zilberman pointed out that “the Israeli Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochabi, when he warned Iran against launching any attack, went to Iraq and Yemen, and when he spoke about the Second Countries Circle, the intention of the First Circle was Lebanon and Syria,” noting that “Iran had attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in September. 2019 from Yemen, Iraq and Iran, using dozens of drones and remote-guided missiles, without anyone revealing them. He said, "This indicates a great Iranian ability in this field," stressing that "the matter may be repeated from those sites against Israel, so his eye is on Iraq and Yemen finally." In response to a question about an Israeli submarine crossing the Suez Canal heading to the Red Sea and possibly the Gulf, he said that he does not confirm this, except that he does not deny that the Israeli navy is operating everywhere, indicating that “Israeli submarines are sailing quietly to various places far and near. ».

 

[horsesoldier]

This Marine didn't get that chest full O' Medals winning Bake Offs stationed with the Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps. Go Ahead Iran, MAKE HIS DAY

 

Edited December 27, 2020 by horsesoldier

[yota691]

Iran reveals for the first time the number of suspects in the assassination of Soleimani and Al-Muhandis

 

 

•  Today, 14:39
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Follow-up - IQ  

 

A spokesman for the People's Committee to commemorate the killing of the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, General Qassem Soleimani, on Sunday (December 27, 2020), revealed the number of the main defendants in the case of the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.

 

Hussein Amir Abd al-Lahian said, in a press conference followed by IQ NEWS, that "the programs to commemorate the martyrdom of Hajj Qassem Soleimani began with the meeting of the family of the martyr Soleimani and the officials of the committee and the foundation with the leader of the revolution, and these programs will continue in Iran and other countries until January 16," indicating "A ceremony will be held in Tehran in the presence of a number of dignitaries, taking into account health protocols. There will also be a ceremony in the city of Kerman, the birthplace of General Soleimani, for a period of 10 days."

 

With regard to the judicial procedures to follow up on the assassination case, the spokesperson of the People's Committee for Commemoration said, "It should be said that the verdict will be issued soon, given the efforts of the judiciary to issue a ruling to prosecute those who ordered and carried out the assassination of General Soleimani," noting that "the number of the main accused in the assassination case General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis are 48 people. "

 

"Severe revenge is on the agenda of the Islamic Republic, although some slaps have been directed at the perpetrators and the American terrorist government," he said.

 

The commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi, the leading engineer in the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, were killed on January 3 in an American raid targeting their convoy near Baghdad airport.

 

[yota691]

Iran: We hope that Iraq will fulfill its responsibilities to punish those involved in the assassination of Soleimani

13:54 - 12/28/2020

 

  

The information / Baghdad ..
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatib Zadeh announced, on Monday, that his country hopes that the Iraqi government will fulfill its responsibilities more regarding the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and punish those involved.
"We hope that the Iraqi government will fulfill its responsibilities more regarding the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani and punish those involved in the assassination," Zadeh said in a press conference followed by the "information".
He added, "Martyr General Soleimani was carrying diplomatic messages with him to Saudi Arabia on the day of his assassination," stressing that "earlier, Tehran received messages from Saudi Arabia that were not diplomatically as required, as they were answered through the Gulf Cooperation Council."
He stressed that " Iran's policy is good neighborliness," noting that "Iran will not drag its differences with others to other regions, but the United States has taken from its bases in neighboring countries a headquarters to disturb security in Iran We have repeatedly asked neighboring and friendly countries to do their duty in the face of the adventures of the White House rulers, but we do not hesitate for a moment to defend our interests. End / 25

[yota691]

 

[yota691]

Baghdad: The investigation into the killing of Soleimani and the engineer has reached advanced stages

 

Tuesday - 15 Jumada I 1442 AH - December 29, 2020 AD Issue No. [15372]

 

 

Pictures of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis on the facade of a building in Basra yesterday (AFP)

Baghdad: Fadel Al-Nashmi

The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council announced yesterday that the ongoing investigations into the killing of the former Iranian "Quds Force" commander, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, and their companions at the beginning of this year near Baghdad airport, have reached advanced stages.
The supervisor of the Media Center of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Haider Ali Nuri, said: “The competent investigation court has cut advanced stages in the investigation and completed all its aspects. Evidence was gathered by recording the statements of personal claimants and listening to the testimonies of witnesses of the accident from Baghdad International Airport employees and employees of the security services there. He pointed out that «the statements of officials at Baghdad International Airport and some employees of the (G4S) company present at the site of the accident were recorded on the date of its occurrence, as well as the statements of the legal representative of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the legal representative of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad who requested a complaint against everyone who is proven guilty of the crime. Or his involvement in it} on behalf of the families of the dead.
The spokesman stated that videos were viewed "which contain official statements of the outgoing President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, which show that he issued the order} to carry out the killing of Soleimani. He pointed out that "the coming days will witness the issuance of appropriate judicial decisions against the accused and those involved in the assassination incident, as soon as the investigation procedures are completed, based on what was explained by the competent investigating judge in the Central Investigation Court, which is in charge of the investigation of this case."
The nature of the judgments or their enforcement power that the Iraqi judiciary will issue against the party involved in the killing is not known, and here is the United States of America and its President, Donald Trump, who claimed responsibility for the killing. Rather, he considered it one of his most important foreign achievements on the security level during his recent election campaign, which he lost to Democratic rival Joe Biden.
A judicial source excludes the ability of the Iraqi judiciary to pursue President Trump, and tells Al-Sharq al-Awsat: “Since the killing took place inside Iraqi territory and with the bodies of the dead; The Iraqi judiciary is obligated to open an investigation into the incident, but I rule out its ability to pursue Donald Trump. I think that the trial is formal and its goal is political satisfaction, and it will be in harmony with the desire of the affected parties, namely (the crowd) and Tehran. He adds: “The truth is that the judgments that may be issued by the Iraqi judiciary and perhaps any judiciary in the world against the American president are meaningless, as are the judgments issued against the American army that is protected from accountability with legal immunity ... Yes, if the judiciary proves that there are Iraqis involved in an accident. Murder, in which case he can pass judgment against them, and I rule out proving that.
On the other hand, yesterday, an arrest warrant issued in accordance with "Article 4 Terrorism" against the leader of the "Hezbollah Brigades", Hussein Mu`nis, nicknamed "Abu Ali Al-Askari", who attacked and threatened Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, against the background of the arrest of elements involved in the bombing of the Green Zone and the American Embassy last week.
While the Supreme Judicial Council did not deny or prove the document’s issuance, media outlets close to the Iranian-allied factions denied the document’s issuance against al-Askari, a shadowy figure who adopts extremist positions against the United States and the Iraqi government and owes allegiance to the Iranian “Wilayat al-Faqih”.
The expert of armed groups, Hisham Al-Hashemi, said before his assassination by armed groups in Baghdad last July, that “(Al-Askari), whose real name is (Hussein Mu'nis), is a member of the (Hezbollah Brigades) Shura Council and works as a security advisor.”
till then; The spokesman for the political bureau of the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq" movement, Mahmoud al-Rubaie, criticized the threats of "Al-Askari" to the Prime Minister, and said in statements to the official "Al-Iraqiya" channel: "Abu Ali Al-Askari does not know any of us, and he was affected by social media sites, and the reactions that occurred. ». He added, "(Al-Asaib) believes that (Al-Askari's) tweet makes the situation more tense."
On the other hand; As part of their continuous operations against the convoys of logistical supplies to the international coalition forces, the armed groups loyal to Iran targeted, yesterday, a convoy in the province of Diwaniyah in the south of the country, in an incident that is the second of its kind within 24 hours, which strengthens the conviction of local observers that the work of these groups will not stop no matter what they issued From statements pacifying and denouncing against the attacks.

[yota691]

US sends Iraq 30 armoured vehicles ahead of Qassem Suliemani death anniversary

 

Iraqi's say they are anxious of what could happen days before the first anniversary of the assassination

 

/image/policy:1.1134530:1608819919/FILES-IRAQ-US-EMBASSY-BAGHDAD.jpg?f=16x9&w=1200&$p$f$w=f7bb93c

The US embassy complex in Baghdad. AFP

The US said on Wednesday it had provided Iraq's army with dozens of armoured vehicles to secure the Green Zone ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of Iranian Gen Qassem Suleimani.

The area, located inside Iraq’s capital, is where the US and several other western countries' embassies and government buildings are positioned. It is relatively known as a safe zone but has been the target of continuous rocket attacks during the last year.

“We are committed to assist the Iraqi army in maintaining the country’s security. To achieve this goal, the United States provided the Iraqi army with 30 armoured cars to help secure the international zone,” the US embassy in Baghdad said in a statement published on Facebook.

The vehicles were given to the Special Command Division (SCD) at Al Assad Air Base, and will be used by the Iraqi military in their patrols, said the statement.

It comes days before the first anniversary of the assassination of Suleimani in a US air strike on January 3, 2020, in Baghdad, which also killed Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis.

 

The move is part of “larger plan by the US to support the SCD in securing the capital, Baghdad,” said the embassy.

"We will continue to work together to ensure a stable and secure future for the Iraqi people."

Rockets have often been fired at the US embassy to protest the presence of US troops in Iraq.

Washington has placed the blame on Iran-backed Iraqi militias but no sides has claimed responsibility.

The latest attack on the Green Zone was last week when eight small rockets launched.

 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the attack and blamed Iranian forces for carrying it out.

No embassy personnel were injured, but the rocket did damage some residential property surrounding the Green Zone, Mr Pompeo said in a statement.

Minor damages were caused to the embassy building and the facility's missile defence system was activated to deflect the attack, the embassy said.

The Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, said his country played no part in the repeated attacks on the embassy and Green Zone.

The US and Iran came close to war following rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting American forces and US air strikes against militia groups this year.

It has left many Iraqis anxious about what might happen before the anniversary of Suleimani's assassination.

"We are afraid that Iran or Shiite militias might act foolishly and provoke [US President Donald] Trump, putting the country and civilians in danger," a Baghdad resident told The National on condition of anonymity.

"Since early this year, they [militias] have spread fear all over Baghdad with their rockets flying over houses to hit the Green Zone, injuring and killing only civilians," said the 46-year-old man, who lives near the Green Zone.

Mr Trump announced plans for a troop withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan by January 15, 2021, days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

The planned withdrawal will leave approximately 2,500 troops in both countries.

* Additional reporting by Sinan Mahmood in Baghdad

[yota691]

Fox News: Intelligence report indicates Iran's intention to avenge Soleimani's death

Publication date: 30.12.2020 | 21:23 GMT |world News

Reuters THAIER AL-SUDANI

 

Fox News, citing a senior US military official, reported that an intelligence report indicated Iran's intention to take revenge on the United States for the killing of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani.

In an interview with "Fox News" and a small group of journalists, on Wednesday, the official indicated that the latest intelligence reports contain "more disturbing information" than was mentioned earlier in this regard since the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3, 2020.

The official pointed out that this information prompted the US Central Command (Centcom) to send the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" to the region, in addition to the flight of two "B-52" strategic bombers.

He said, "We see accurate planning of attacks, especially in Iraq, that require Iranian assistance to carry them out," adding that "it is unclear whether this is an emergency plan or a plan that is being activated because it has been approved, and they are moving forward with preparing all its details and implementing them."

He suggested that the attacks might target American citizens in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, and he did not rule out an attack on the US embassy in Baghdad "in one way or another."

 He said, "We see a tangible volume of conventional weapons of various types that were crossing the borders into Iraq. The danger seems very realistic."

He explained that the attacks could be carried out by means of short-range ballistic missiles, winged missiles or drones similar to those used in the attack on Saudi Aramco facilities last year.

This comes after the largest attack on the US embassy in Baghdad in the recent period, when 21 rockets were fired at the embassy headquarters on December 20.

 

Source: Fox News

[yota691]

Wonder what he say if we remind him of the Beirut Bombing with all those almost 300+ Marines in the barracks...

 

 

Rouhani: Iran reserves right to avenge Soleimani death

President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will avenge the US assassination of its top commander Qasem Soleimani and will continue to seek the ouster of American forces from the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives for the inaugural session of the new parliament in Tehran on May 27, 2020, following February elections. Photo by AFP via Getty Images.

Al-Monitor Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOPICS COVERED

Islamic State

Iran-US tensions

Dec 30, 2020

President Hassan Rouhani has again vowed revenge on the United States for last year's killing of Iran’s most powerful general, Qasem Soleimani, who was the head of the country’s overseas military operations unit known as the Quds Force.

Accusing US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of the “savage assassination,” Rouhani warned Dec. 29  that Iranians “won’t let them get away” and have “every right to avenge the blood of their popular commander.”

The Iranian president gave Soleimani full credit for flushing the Islamic State out of neighboring Iraq and Syria, and explained his killing as a sign of the US government’s unease with his achievements against the terror group, which he said was “nurtured” by the West and Zionists and was seeking to disrupt the Middle East.

Since the deadly Jan. 3 strike on Soleimani’s convoy in Baghdad, the Islamic Republic has repeatedly promised retaliation. In the immediate aftermath, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also Iran’s commander in chief, ordered a ballistic missile attack on the US-run Ain al-Asad airbase in neighboring Iraq. “But that was just a small slap in the face,” Rouhani said during his last 2020 address to the Iranian Cabinet.

“As long as you are in the region, our revenge has yet to be exacted,” the Iranian president added, referencing the US military presence, which Tehran has persistently opposed. Describing the fight as “resistance,” the Islamic Republic has targeted American interests through proxy militia it has been funding and training over decades. The US “maximum pressure” policy introduced by President Donald Trump has, however, shrunk Iran’s cash reserves, reportedly affecting its ability to assist such groups. Yet Rouhani noted with defiance that despite Soleimani’s death, “Resistance is continuing with the same zeal and enthusiasm.”

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In an ongoing escalatory episode in recent days, Iran and the United States have been engaged in harsh rhetoric after the US Embassy in Baghdad was targeted with a series of rocket attacks blamed on Iran-backed forces, and the United States dispatched a guided-missile submarine and two cruisers to the Persian Gulf. With the US move widely seen as a preemptive measure in preparation to neutralize Iranian plans on the one-year anniversary of the Soleimani killing, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned, “Washington will be responsible for any adventurism in the region.”

Speculation has been rife recently in Iranian media circles about a possible new cycle of tensions to be triggered by Trump before his departure from office next month. His Iranian counterpart said Dec. 29 that the region should enjoy better stability and security once the "heinous murderer" is out of the White House.

[yota691]

Iran accuses British company of helping to assassinate Soleimani

 

December 31, 2020 at 11:57 am | Published in: Iran, Middle East, News

People gather to protest the US air strike in Iraq that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani on 6 January, 2020 [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency]

 

December 31, 2020 at 11:57 am

 

Iranian Prosecutor Ali Al-Qasi Mehr has accused the British company G4S of providing the US armed forces in Iraq with the arrival details of the aircraft in which General Qasem Soleimani was travelling prior to his assassination by an American drone. G4S is responsible for aviation security at Baghdad International Airport, where the attack which killed Soleimani took place.

The public prosecutor made the allegation on Wednesday during a legal and judicial follow-up session covering the assassination of Soleimani and his delegation. Also taking part were the Chief Justice of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and officials of the judicial, military, security, intelligence and political authorities.

Iran's Attorney General claimed that investigations to date indicate Germany's involvement in the murder. He explained that the US Air Force in Germany was responsible for directing the drone that targeted Soleimani's convoy.

The Iranian authorities are working to prosecute the British company along with others suspected of involvement in the killing. "We identified 45 US nationals responsible for the assassination of Soleimani and we have submitted summons requests to Interpol," explained Mehr. "Iran has also granted six countries — Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan — judicial representation to investigate the assassination of Soleimani, and we recently received the investigation results from Iraq."