Will Iran & US Go to War Over the Killing of General Soleimani?

Iran has sworn revenge from the US for General Soleimani’s death. But what makes one man so important? We explain.

The United States confirmed that they killed General Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, in an air raid at Baghdad’s international airport in Iraq, on 2 January. 

(Image: Altered by The Quint)

General Qasem Soleimani is dead! The United States confirmed that they killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, in an air raid at Baghdad’s international airport in Iraq, on 2 January. Iran has sworn revenge for his death, and the two countries may now be on the brink of war.

But what makes one man, Soleimani, so important?

“To Middle Eastern Shiites, he is James Bond, Erwin Rommel and Lady Gaga rolled into one. To the West, he is... responsible for exporting Iran’s Islamic revolution, supporting terrorists, subverting pro-Western governments and waging Iran’s foreign wars.”

Quote about Soleimani from Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2017

Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, has called Soleimani a martyr, and promised “vigorous revenge for the criminals”.

Has the US crossed a line and triggered events that are well beyond its control? Will the US and Iran go to war?

And who exactly was General Qasem Soleimani?