By: John Devaney and Teddy Devaney
On Jan. 3, a few days after the start of the New Year, Iranian military general, Qassim Suleimani, was killed by a drone strike from the United States’ military near the Baghdad airport. He was viewed in the U.S. as a war criminal, and also one of the most powerful men in Iran.
This attack on Suleimani took place after the recent protests and attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and Iran was responsible for previously taking an American Ambassador hostage in 1979. Suleimani himself was responsible for killing and wounding thousands of American troops in Iraq, Seria, Afghanistan where he supported Shiite militia groups and IED attacks.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation on live television on Jan 4. Trump claimed that Sulemani was “plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel.”(C-Span) He followed up by saying “We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war.”
The country seems to be split in half following the killing of Suleimani. Some clips show people running through the streets celebrating, cheering, and crying tears of joy, in Iraq. While the citizens of Iran feel the opposite. Some chant “revenge is coming” and “death to America”. (CNN)
The United States by far has the stronger military and intelligence agencies, it is only a matter of if, and how the recent threats by both countries will be carried out. The recent Iraq parliament vote expelled U.S troops from the country. If they are, it will result in casualties on both sides. It is clear that Trump does not want to start a war, yet the tension is visible between the U.S and Iran.
