US killed Qasem Soleimani: 'Iraqis dancing in the street', video goes viral
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared a clip on social media on Thursday. The video displayed Iraqis ‘dancing in the streets’ after the United States killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, according to the US.
"Iraqis - Iraqis - dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more," Pompeo wrote, along with footage of people running along the road and waving what appeared to be Iraqi flag.
US President Donald Trump give the order to execute the Iran Revolutionary Guards commander, who perished on Friday. "in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad," the Pentagon said.
"General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region," the Department of Defense said in a statement.
"General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more."
Also Read: Iran Guards ex-head vows 'revenge' on US over Soleimani death
Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not disclose the source of the video or offer any details about where the image were recorded.
The strike at Baghdad’s international airport also caused the death of the chief of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary forces.
Earlier, pro Iran mob ambushed the US embassy following lethal American air strike on a hardline Hashed.
The US had taken this step in retaliation to a rocket attack that killed an American contractor working in Iran.
The US stated that Soleimani had coordinated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the past month, including 27th December.
"General Soleimani also approved the attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad that took place this week," it said.
Also Read: Donald Trump ordered killing of Soleimani to protect US personnel abroad: Pentagon
First published: 3 January 2020, 15:34 IST