'Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, was a hugely significan figure in the region.'
- BBC,
Top Iranian general killed by US in Iran, January 3, 2020
'The U.S. may conduct preemptive strikes against Iranian-backed militias, Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned on Thursday, adding that he expects those groups are planning further attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq.
“Do I think they might do something? Yes, and they will likely regret it,” Esper said of Kataib Hezbollah, the militia group that attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad this week following U.S. airstrikes on the group in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. conducted the strikes after the group struck a base in Iraq, killing a U.S. contractor.
“There are some indications out there that they may be planning additional attacks,” Esper said. “If we get word of attacks, we will take preemptive action as well to protect American forces, protect American lives. The game has changed.”
With the deployment of Marines from Kuwait to the embassy and an Army battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Kuwait, the Pentagon has enough forces in and around Iraq to fend off further assaults on the embassy or outposts where U.S. troops are training the Iraqi military.'
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'The game has changed': Defense secretary warns of preemptive strikes on Iranian group, January 2, 2020
Context'If you threaten us .. your longest, and your worst, day.'Nuremberg chief prosecutor .. his motto is “law not war”..'