From Militarytimes.com
Members of Congress reacted with both praise and apprehension at the news of the death of Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani in an airstrike inside Iraq late Thursday night, a move likely to heighten tensions in the region.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed that the attack was launched by U.S. military personnel. He said Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, was actively developing plans to attack U.S. troops and diplomats in the region.
Several others were killed in the strike, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces.
The strike comes after days of protests and attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and the deployment of 750 more American troops to the region to secure that compound and American personnel there.
The assassination drew praise for President Donald Trump and the Pentagon from many conservatives on Capitol Hill, who called it a decisive response to Iranian aggression.
“This is very simple: General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered Americans,” said Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. “The president made the brave and right call, and Americans should be proud of our servicemembers who got the job done.”
He added that the strike sends the message to Iran that “before they lash out further they should know that the U.S. military can bring any and all of these (Iranian) butchers to their knees.”
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