Killing the Killers Summary

Sometimes the elimination of one man changes the course of history – was General Qasem Soleimani's death such a moment?

1. Soleimani's Rise From Obscurity

Qasem Soleimani began his journey as an ordinary young man from Iran, without any formal military background. He joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 1979 at the age of 22, shortly after the Iranian Revolution dethroned the shah. This marked the beginning of his long ascent through the ranks due to his natural leadership and dedication.

During the brutal eight-year Iran-Iraq War that began in 1980, Soleimani emerged as a capable field commander. He believed that Iraq should always remain weak enough to no longer threaten Iran. This thought later extended to the entire region, including an intense mistrust and hatred of the United States, which supported Iraq during the conflict. Soleimani's war experience laid the foundation for his ideology and tactics, propelling his rise.

By 1997, he became the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, specializing in intelligence and unconventional warfare. Under his leadership, Quds began fostering alliances with militant groups worldwide, arming Hamas in Palestine, supporting Assad in Syria, and even collaborating with the Taliban against U.S. interests in Afghanistan.

Examples

• Soleimani led IRGC units with remarkable efficiency during the Iran-Iraq War, often under dire conditions.
• He built covert alliances and extended military support to Hamas and Hezbollah.
• Soleimani claimed openly in 2003 that he controlled Iran's policies regarding key nations such as Lebanon, Gaza, and Iraq.

2. Soleimani and the Shadow Wars

Soleimani mastered the art of warfare in secrecy, directing what became known as "shadow wars" far from public scrutiny. His specialty was supporting insurgencies and coordinating operations that destabilized enemies while enlarging Iranian influence through proxies.

He targeted American interests directly and indirectly. For instance, when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Soleimani oversaw the smuggling of bombs that inflicted heavy damage on American troops. Beyond Iraq, he cultivated ties with groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, fighting wars-by-proxy across the region.

These operations made him both feared and respected. By 2013, Soleimani had become one of the most powerful yet relatively unnoticed figures on the global stage. Even certain American intelligence officials grudgingly acknowledged his strategic brilliance as a commander.

Examples

• Soleimani smuggled bombs into Iraq that killed and maimed countless U.S. troops.
• He supported Hezbollah’s extensive operations against Israel.
• His strategic alliances transformed the IRGC into a formidable force operating globally.

3. Iran’s Defining Role in the Fight Against ISIS

As ISIS gained ground in the early 2010s, Soleimani took a leading role in combating the Sunni terror group – an archenemy to Shia-dominated Iran. In 2015, he staged a successful operation to recapture Tikrit, a key city in Iraq seized by ISIS forces.

The symbolic significance of Tikrit was powerful; it was Saddam Hussein's birthplace and a critical stronghold along major Iraqi routes. Soleimani coordinated an impressive force of 20,000 Shia fighters against ISIS, whose leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proved powerless to stop the Iranian advance. Photos of Soleimani directing his troops and praying hit the media, elevating his mythos.

Even so, the battle was not purely a defense against terrorism. Soleimani's efforts reflected Iran’s aims to assert its dominance while undermining American influence in the region – all under the guise of battling ISIS.

Examples

• Soleimani orchestrated Iran-backed victories in Tikrit in 2015.
• Photos of him as a visible battlefield commander bolstered his reputation.
• His campaign marginalized U.S.-led efforts in Iraq.

4. Al-Baghdadi and ISIS Take the Spotlight

While Soleimani's operations against ISIS unfolded, global attention was drawn toward the terror group’s atrocities and attempts to ward off defeat. In December 2015, just after the Paris terror attacks, U.S. officials confronted ISIS’s growing menace even as strategists warned of Soleimani’s long-term threat.

Al-Baghdadi’s leadership of ISIS wreaked havoc across the world. However, many argued that Soleimani posed an even graver challenge due to his calculated operations and far-reaching influence. Despite this, global focus stayed on combating ISIS, as seen during major military campaigns in areas like Mosul and Kirkuk.

Soleimani, meanwhile, quietly returned to Iran, leaving behind a trail of debates – was Soleimani more dangerous than ISIS itself?

Examples

• Discussions in U.S. congress emphasized Soleimani’s implied threat over al-Baghdadi.
• Soleimani orchestrated widespread but shadowy IRGC operations globally.
• ISIS attacks like the Bataclan tragedy captured global focus, though Soleimani instigated equally devastating campaigns.

5. Urban Combat and Letters to Leaders

In 2017, a major breakthrough happened when Iranian-backed forces nearly eliminated the last ISIS foothold in Syria. Soleimani reported this triumph to Iran's supreme leader alongside grandiose accusations, claiming such “crimes” were backed by the United States.

Simultaneously, the CIA’s Mike Pompeo issued warnings to Soleimani directly, holding him and Iran accountable for U.S. casualties. The message was clear: America was watching Iran closely. But Soleimani dismissed the letter with defiance, amplifying hate-filled rhetoric against U.S. and allied forces.

Behind the scenes, Trump’s administration laid groundwork to eradicate terror leaders, including al-Baghdadi and Soleimani, who increasingly became targets beyond containment efforts.

Examples

• Soleimani claimed success against ISIS in Syria as revenge for their attack on Tehran.
• Pompeo’s direct message to Soleimani underlined escalating tension.
• Efforts to decapitate terror groups like ISIS led the U.S. to surveil Soleimani.

6. Precision Targeting of al-Baghdadi

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi met his fate in October 2019, thanks to CIA intelligence and U.S. military precision. His compound in Syria was encircled by elite Delta Force soldiers and Night Stalker aviators during a daring raid.

Captured spies and informants disclosed al-Baghdadi’s hideout, helping execute a well-planned mission. In a cowardly move, al-Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest, taking the lives of two of his children but sparing those conducting the operation.

This episode showcased America’s resolve in combating global threats, placing Soleimani next in line for elimination.

Examples

• Delta Force's key raid neutralized al-Baghdadi in Syria.
• U.S. drones tracked ISIS targets with unmatched technology.
• Intelligence gained from captured ISIS operatives proved instrumental.

7. Soleimani’s Final Hours

On January 3, 2020, General Soleimani’s life ended in an explosive U.S. drone strike near Baghdad airport. Soleimani had traveled to Iraq to plot new attacks on American forces, unaware that he was being tracked.

Drones launched Hellfire missiles into the vehicles carrying Soleimani and his entourage. He was incinerated along with his supporters, but a severed hand bearing his ring provided clear identification of his remains.

The strike was met with global reactions – some applauded the move as a defense, while others questioned America’s role in escalating tensions.

Examples

• Soleimani traveled to Baghdad for meetings but was closely followed.
• The precision drone strike left little evidence beyond his identifiable ring.
• Critics feared escalating U.S.-Iran tensions as protests erupted.

8. Fallout and International Division

Soleimani’s assassination widened global divides. While countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia backed Trump’s actions, nations such as Russia condemned it as reckless. Amid global outcry, rumors of an impending World War III circulated.

Iran vowed revenge, and soon after, missiles hit U.S. bases in Iraq. Despite the attack, no Americans died. But hours later, a Ukrainian passenger plane was downed by Iranian fire in a tragic mishap, staining Soleimani’s legacy further.

The world continued to brace for potential aftershocks between Iran and the U.S., heightening anxieties across diplomatic lines.

Examples

• Iranian missiles targeted, but failed to harm, U.S. forces in Iraq.
• A mistaken strike brought down a Ukrainian airliner, killing 176.
• Geopolitical tensions escalated as protests emerged worldwide.

9. Soleimani’s End Sparks a Broader Debate

General Soleimani was gone, but the debates surrounding his elimination persisted. Supporters of the strike argued it preempted atrocities against Americans. Opponents believed his death increased instability in the Middle East.

Iran conducted mass funeral processions, denounced U.S. actions, and promised retaliation. Meanwhile, President Trump publicly defended the decision as necessary for global security.

The narrative surrounding Soleimani shifted from his actions in life to the controversies surrounding his death, leaving questions about the long-term consequences of targeted assassinations.

Examples

• Trump justified Soleimani's death as preemptive action.
• Iran’s Supreme Leader vowed future retaliation.
• U.S. politicians debated whether Soleimani’s death was warranted.

Takeaways

1. Recognize that destabilized regions often breed prolonged conflicts and require careful intervention strategies.
2. Focus on identifying long-term repercussions of military actions rather than just short-term victories.
3. Promote peaceful diplomatic solutions wherever possible to avoid escalation and collateral damage.