“We took action last night to stop a war, we did not take action to start a war,” President Donald Trump said.

Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general, was killed on Friday the 3rd by an American drone missile. The assassination was ordered by none other than our president Trump.

Soleimani was with many other Iranian officials and allies when the missile bombed his convoy as he left Baghdad Airport.

Friday afternoon, Trump made a statement regarding the airstrike at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personal,” Trump said, justifying why he had to terminate the general.

Trump also refers to the Syria raid in October where Islamic State leader al-Baghdadi was killed “The world is a safer place without these monsters”. A few weeks ago, however, a faction of al-Baghdadi’s terrorist group killed 11 Christians on camera to avenge his death.

“Soleimani made the death of innocent people his sick passion.” said Trump contradicting what Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei later says.

Across the pond, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted: “The path of resistance to the excesses of the United States continues.” Referring to the murder of Soleimani.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, considered to be the most powerful person in Iran, also made a statement to the public. “After years of sincere and courageous fight against the devils and evil-doers of the world and after years of wishing for martyrdom in the path of God, alas, dear Soleimani attained this lofty position and his pure blood was spilled by the vilest of human beings.” Khamenei has declared a 3-day mourning period for Soleimani. 

Trump also said: “take comfort in knowing that his [Soleimani] reign of terror is over”. Following the airstrike, Iran has vowed “harsh retaliation” which was the opposite of the goal behind the airstrike. The US and the rest of the world are on high alert with this seemingly out of control action, the new decade could have conflict in store.