US President Donald Trump, in a report to the US Congress, justifying the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, omitted that an “immediate threat” would have prompted the attack last month, CNN Friday. Earlier, Trump claimed that the attack was necessary to protect American citizens against such a threat.
Iranian General Soleimani was killed by the United States in early January in a drone attack at an airport in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
The White House is legally obliged to send a report to the US Congress after a military action such as the attack on Soleimani. In the report, the White House must explain the legitimate reasons for such an attack.
The report states that “Iran’s past and recent activities, coupled with intelligence, indicated that the Iranian army posed a threat to the United States in Iraq, and that the air strike was intended to protect American personnel and prevent future Iranian attacks” .
According to Eliot Engel, the highest Democrat in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, the official report contradicts the president’s “false” claim that he had the general killed for an “immediate threat” to the US. Such a threat is not mentioned in the report.
Trumps cabinet gave conflicting statements
Since the attack on Soleimani, members of Trumps cabinet have given conflicting statements. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said killing Soleimani was part of a broader strategy to deter American opponents.
A possible attack on four US embassies was also given as a reason, but US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said there was no hard evidence that Iran was planning an attack.
During a debate last month, Trumps cabinet failed to convince Democrats within the congress of the need to eliminate the Iranian general.
On Thursday, the US Senate adopted a resolution that limits Trump in his military actions in Iran. Trump has already announced that he will veto this legislation. The senate can reverse that veto with a two-thirds majority, but that seems unlikely because of the Republican majority in the Senate.
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