The want for world peace becomes even greater in dark times. 

On Friday, January 3, 2020, the United States government issued an airstrike in Baghdad in the attempt to defend the U.S. troops stationed in the region. This resulted in the  killing of the head of Iran’s military, Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy of the Popular Mobilization Units. Now, tensions between Iran and the United States are at a new high. 

Esmail Ghaani, who replaced Soleimani, pledged during a televised event that he was going to avenge the general’s killing. This, in turn, led to an $80,000 bounty placed upon President Donald Trump. Iran has since withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear deal and does not intend to agree to any part of this deal. 

“This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans,” the United States Defense Department said. “The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.”

The Pentagon and Defense Department have both issued statements stating the Soleimani had been actively planning attacks on United States diplomats and armed forces in Iraq. Recently there were rocket attacks in Iraq along with an attempted breach of the embassy compound in Baghdad, that the United States officials blamed Iranian forces for. The Defense Department states that Soleimani had been orchestrating these attacks for several months, including one that occurred on December 27 that killed an American contractor. 

“I believe it is highly likely the U.S. would not have undertaken this action unless it believed doing so would have prevented the loss of American lives,” Norman Roule, a 34-year- old CIA veteran who oversaw national intelligence policy on Iran, said. “American officials are fully aware of the consequences such an action would produce.”

Al-Muhandis is said to have been plotting attacks against America since the 1980s. He was also convicted for a previous attack in Kuwait, which killed five Kuwaitis. He is considered a terrorist by the Defense Department because of his planned attacks. 

The United  States  Government and the Defense Department plans to continue to take all necessary precautions in protecting United States citizens in both America and different countries.