In short
On January 3, 2020, the U.S. conducted a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport that killed Qassem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful military commander and architect of its regional influence. President Donald Trump authorized the strike without advance congressional notification. The killing dramatically escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran, pushing both nations to the brink of direct military confrontation.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, was assassinated by an American drone strike ordered by U.S. president Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, while travelling to meet Iraqi prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
As it was happening
12 voices, 13 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
KH Air Base attack
Rocket fire kills U.S. contractor and wounds American soldiers at Kirkuk airbase in Iraq, attributed to Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran.
Voices from this moment (1)
KH Air Base attack
Dec 27
“Rocket fire kills U.”
As it was happening
12 voices, 13 days.
Day 0 · December 27, 2019
KH Air Base attack
Rocket fire kills U.S. contractor and wounds American soldiers at Kirkuk airbase in Iraq, attributed to Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran.
“Rocket fire kills U.”
- KH Air Base attack, Dec 27
Day 2 · December 29, 2019
U.S. retaliatory airstrikes
U.S. military conducts strikes on five Iraqi militia sites linked to Iran's Quds Force, killing at least 25 fighters.
“U.”
- U.S. retaliatory airstrikes, Dec 29
Day 7 · January 3, 2020
Soleimani assassination
MQ-9 Reaper drone fires on convoy near Baghdad International Airport, killing Qassem Soleimani and nine others including Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Day 7 · January 3, 2020
Trump justification
President Trump states operation targeted Soleimani to prevent imminent attacks on U.S. personnel and embassy.
“U.…”
- The New York Times, Jan 3
“Qassem Soleimani: Iranian general killed in Baghdad air…”
- BBC News, Jan 3
“U.…”
- Reuters, Jan 3
“Qassem Soleimani: US kills Iran's top military commander”
- Al Jazeera, Jan 3
“Qassem Soleimani: the Iranian commander who shaped the…”
- The Guardian, Jan 3
“President Trump states operation targeted Soleimani to…”
- Trump justification, Jan 3
“MQ-9 Reaper drone fires on convoy near Baghdad…”
- Soleimani assassination, Jan 3
Day 9 · January 5, 2020
Iraqi parliament vote
Iraq's parliament votes 323-0 to request removal of U.S. military forces from the country.
“Iraq's parliament votes 323-0 to request removal of U.”
- Iraqi parliament vote, Jan 5
Day 12 · January 8, 2020
Iranian retaliation
Iran launches Operation Martyr Soleimani: 13 ballistic missiles strike al-Asad and Erbil airbases in Iraq housing U.S. troops; no American deaths reported.
“Iran launches Operation Martyr Soleimani: 13 ballistic…”
- Iranian retaliation, Jan 8
Day 13 · January 9, 2020
De-escalation signals
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declares missile strikes sufficient response; Trump states no further military action planned.
“Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declares missile…”
- De-escalation signals, Jan 9
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, BBC News, Reuters.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States · Jan 3, 2020
"U.S. Drone Strike Kills Qassem Soleimani, Iran's Military Mastermind"
The United States killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' elite Quds Force and one of the most influential military commanders in the Middle East, in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on Friday.
- Jan 3, 2020
Reuters
Newspaper · International
"U.S. kills Iran's most powerful military commander Soleimani in Baghdad strike"
The United States killed Qassem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, in a strike at Baghdad's international airport on Friday, marking a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
- Jan 3, 2020
BBC News
TV · United Kingdom
"Qassem Soleimani: Iranian general killed in Baghdad air strike"
Iran's powerful military commander Qassem Soleimani has been killed in an air strike in Baghdad, the U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said he was killed in a "treacherous" attack by the United States.
- Jan 3, 2020
Al Jazeera
TV · Middle East
"Qassem Soleimani: US kills Iran's top military commander"
Synthesized from period reporting - The U.S. military carried out a drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport. The killing of Iran's most senior military figure risks escalating regional tensions.
- Jan 3, 2020
The Guardian
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"Qassem Soleimani: the Iranian commander who shaped the regional order"
General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport, was arguably the second most powerful figure in Iran and a dominant force in shaping Middle Eastern geopolitics over two decades.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
en.wikipedia.org