Tipsheet

Iranian Military Leader Soleimani Killed in US Airstrike

UPDATE: The Pentagon has released a statement explaining that today's strike was launched in order to "deter future Iranian attack plans." And it sounds like there were quite a few.

UPDATE: President Trump shared a simple message in response to the military victory.

UPDATE: U.S and Israeli militaries are both on High Alert for possible retaliation. 

ORIGINAL POST

The leader of Iran's Quds Forces, Qassem Soleimani, and Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes have been killed in a U.S. airstrike on Baghdad's international airport. These reports come just a few days after members and supporters of the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah ambushed the U.S embassy in Baghdad.

Experts are already noting just how massive this news is.

Last week a violent mob gathered at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in response to another set of U.S. airstrikes that were ordered as retaliation for an Iranian attack on a military base near Kirkuk. That ambush killed a U.S. contractor and a number of U.S. troops. President Trump's retaliatory airstrikes killed more than two dozen militia members. 

The mob at the embassy retreated once Trump sent in reinforcements.

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper predicted on Thursday that Iran would try to strike U.S. personnel again, but he said they'd do so at their own peril.

"In the last two [months] alone we've [had] nearly a dozen attacks against U.S. forces, against our coalition partners," he said. "So do I think they may do something [else?] Yes. And they will likely regret it."

This is a breaking news post and will be updated accordingly.