Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi condemned the US in a message of condolence on the martyrdom of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force Commander General Qassem Soleimani. RNA - “The assassination of General Soleimani turned the US terrorist and criminal face more hateful than ever,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi said.
The Iranian Navy commander said that undoubtedly General Soleimani was a perfect epitome and model of self-sacrifice who took his step in the right path behind spread of justice with his deep insight.
“Under the auspice of management power based on religious and revolutionary insight, General Soleimani enlivened and raised hopes of liberation in the fight against the global arrogance in the region and world,” he added.
He reiterated that it is obvious that the Resistance Front will revenge the heinous act by the US in the harshest possible way and the Iranian Navy has announced its full readiness at the behest of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
“On behalf of myself and my colleagues at Iran’s Navy, we express my deepest condolences on the martyrdom of General Soleimani to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian nation and his bereaved family,” Admiral Khanzadi further said.
Lieutenant General Soleimani was martyred in a targeted assassination attack by US aircraft at Baghdad International Airport early on Friday morning.
"General Qassem Soleimani has been martyred by the US helicopters after lifetime efforts," the IRGC said in a statement early Friday morning.
The airstrike also martyred Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), or Hashad al-Shabi. The PMF media arm said the two were martyred in an American airstrike that targeted their vehicle on the road to the airport.
A PMF official said seven people were martyred by missiles fired by the US helicopters at Baghdad International Airport.
He said the dead included the PMF airport protocol officer, Mohammed Reda.
The Pentagon confirmed the attack in a statement.
The attack came amid tensions that started by the US attack on PMF units that killed 28 Iraqi popular forces. A day later, Iraqi people attacked the US embassy in Baghdad. On Wednesday President Donald Trump ordered about 750 US soldiers deployed to the Middle East.
US officials earlier suggested they were to engage in further retaliatory attacks in Iraq.
The developments also represent a major downturn in Iraq-US relations that could further undermine US influence in the region and American troops in Iraq and weaken Washington’s hand in its pressure campaign against Iran.
US President Donald Trump was vacationing on his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, but sent out a tweet of an American flag.
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