On Thursday evening, Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport.
The Pentagon confirmed that President Trump ordered the attack that killed the Iranian military mastermind, who Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said was equally as dangerous as ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
A total of 7 others were reportedly killed in the airstrike, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.
The move by President Trump came just days after the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad was breached by Shiite militiamen who were allegedly connected to the Iranian regime.
Soon after reports of the airstrike surfaced, GOP lawmakers responded praising the President’s bold action against Iranian aggression and the United States military as the greatest in the world. (Continued Below)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) issued a statement on Twitter writing: “Wow – the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically. Major blow to Iranian regime that has American blood on its hands. Soleimani was one of the most ruthless and vicious members of the Ayatollah’s regime. He had American blood on his hands. I appreciate President @realDonaldTrump’s bold action against Iranian aggression. To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more.”
“If Iranian aggression continues and I worked at an Iranian oil refinery, I would think about a new career. Thank you, Mr. President, for standing up for America,” he expressed.
“This action by President Trump and our military was in direct response to Iranian aggression orchestrated by General Soleimani and his proxies. If Iran continues to attack America and our allies, they should pay the heaviest of prices, which includes the destruction of their oil refineries. To the Iranian government: If you want to stay in the oil business leave America and our allies alone and stop being the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world” Senator Graham added. (Continued Below)
Minority GOP Whip Steve Scalise responds:
Senator Graham’s official tweets:
I appreciate President @realDonaldTrump’s bold action against Iranian aggression. To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2020
Thank you, Mr. President, for standing up for America.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2020
If Iran continues to attack America and our allies, they should pay the heaviest of prices, which includes the destruction of their oil refineries.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2020
To the Iranian government: If you want to stay in the oil business leave America and our allies alone and stop being the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2020
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Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) wrote: “Facing repeated #IRGC attacks the U.S. & @potus exercised admirable restraint while setting clear red lines & the consequences for crossing them #Iran’s Quds Force chose the path of escalation. They are entirely to blame for bringing about the dangerous moment now before us.”
“The defensive actions the U.S. has taken against #Iran & its proxies are consistent with clear warnings they have received. They chose to ignore these warnings because they believed
@POTUS was constrained from acting by our domestic political divisions. They badly miscalculated,” he continued.
“You don’t have to support @potus withdrawing from the #IranDeal or his “maximum pressure” campaign to support the proposition that planning, conducting, directing or funding attacks aimed at killing Americans merits a swift & decisive response,” Rubio wrote.
“The U.S. exercised economic pressure on Iran. Iran chose to respond to economic pressure with #IRGC sponsored & directed attacks aimed at killing Americans. For months @POTUS has exercised tremendous restraint. These are facts & any other view is either a misinformed one or a lie,” the Florida Senator added.
The defensive actions the U.S. has taken against #Iran & its proxies are consistent with clear warnings they have received
They chose to ignore these warnings because they believed @POTUS was constrained from acting by our domestic political divisions
They badly miscalculated
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 3, 2020
The U.S. exercised economic pressure on Iran
Iran chose to respond to economic pressure with #IRGC sponsored & directed attacks aimed at killing Americans
For months @POTUS has exercised tremendous restraint
These are facts & any other view is either a misinformed one or a lie
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 3, 2020
Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) expressed: “America has the greatest military in the world. God bless our soldiers.”
America has the greatest military in the world. God bless our soldiers.
— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) January 3, 2020
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Rep. Doug Collins tweeted: “Tonight’s attack on Qasem Soleimani—who is responsible for killing countless Americans—sends a strong message: Don’t mess with America.”
Tonight’s attack on Qasem Soleimani—who is responsible for killing countless Americans—sends a strong message: Don’t mess with America. 🇺🇸
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) January 3, 2020
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) wrote, “The days of rolling US senior leaders at the negotiating table & killing US soldiers on the battlefield w/impunity are over. If reports are true & Iran Quds Force commander Qassim Soleimani has been killed, this would be very necessary justice served.”
“The United States of America is the greatest nation on earth with the greatest military…ever,” he added.
https://twitter.com/RepLeeZeldin/status/1212919939239161857?s=20
https://twitter.com/RepLeeZeldin/status/1212927173742518272?s=20
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote: “Iran Quds Force commander Soleimani was responsible for exporting terrorism around the world & targeting & killing American troops along with tens of thousands of people in the Middle East. I support @realDonaldTrump’s decisive action to respond to Iran’s dangerous belligerence.”
“@realDonaldTrump is reaffirming the proven doctrine of Peace Through Strength. Iran was given multiple warnings & instead chose to continue to escalate tensions & threaten US troops & diplomats. The era of leading from behind with pallets of cash is over.”
“Every American should thank our brave men and women in uniform & our intelligence community who executed this successful mission.”
Iran Quds Force commander Soleimani was responsible for exporting terrorism around the world & targeting & killing American troops along with tens of thousands of people in the Middle East. I support @realDonaldTrump’s decisive action to respond to Iran’s dangerous belligerence.
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 3, 2020
Every American should thank our brave men and women in uniform & our intelligence community who executed this successful mission.
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 3, 2020
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