Why did Donald Trump want to kill Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani?

President Donald Trump

Why did Donald Trump want to kill Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani?

AIRSTRIKES approved by President Donald Trump killed Iran's top General Qasem Soleimani while he was in Iraq - causing tensions to reach boiling point.

But why did Trump want to kill Soleimani and how has the Iraqi Government responded?

Donald Trump wanted to kill Iran's general Qasem Soleimani because he claims Soleimani had killed or wounded thousands of Americans - and was "plotting to kill many more."

Soleimani, 62, spearheaded Iran 's military operations in the Middle East as head of the country's elite Quds Force.

He joined the Revolutionary Guards - who have been declared a foreign terrorist organisation by the US - in 1979, taking over as head of the Quds Force in 1998.

He was considered to be one of the most powerful figures in the country, masterminding Iranian intelligence and military operations abroad.

In response to the attack, Mr Trump tweeted: "General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more...but got caught!

"He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number of protesters killed in Iran itself.

"While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country.

"They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe.

"He should have been taken out many years ago!"

In Friday's attack, Gen Soleimani had landed after travelling from either Syria or Lebanon at around 12.30am when he was met by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization forces in Iraq.

As the cars passed through a cargo area for an access road leading out of the airport, the vehicle was struck by at least two missiles by a US MQ9 Reaper drone which was being controlled remotely.

At least two missiles were fired at the vehicles - killing the general and others on board.

The US airstrike was personally approved by Donald Trump.

How has the Iraqi Government responded?

The Iraqi Government has been put in a very difficult situation - because the US airstrike was set against Iran, but instead happened on Iraqi soil.

Iraq is both an ally of Iran and of the US - and US troops remain in Iraq to assist with the broader struggle of Islamic State terrorism in the region.

However, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi condemned the US airstrike as "an outrageous breach to Iraqi sovereignty" and said Parliament would meet to discuss the future of the United States presence in Iraq.

Abdul-Mahdi also described General Soleimani and the militia leader killed alongside him as "martyrs" behind the "great victories against IS (Islamic State)."

Donald Trump, however, saw his airstrike against Soleimani as a sort of favour for the Iraqis.

He tweeted: "The United States has paid Iraq Billions of Dollars a year, for many years. That is on top of all else we have done for them.

"The people of Iraq don’t want to be dominated & controlled by Iran, but ultimately, that is their choice.

Iran has also responded, following the attacks on Friday.

Ahman Khatami, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, said in a chilling threat to the US troops in Middle East that it is "time to clear the region from these insidious beasts".

He added: "I am telling Americans, especially Trump, we will take revenge that will change their daylight into a nighttime darkness."

Iran's defence minister threatened the US with "crushing revenge" and "jihad" in retaliation.

Meanwhile Ayatollah Khomeini said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack.

He also announced three days of public mourning.