Trump says Soleimani should have been killed 'many years ago'
He said Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time
WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Donald Trump said Friday that Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani -- who was assassinated in a US strike -- should have been killed long before.
In his first substantial comments on the operation, carried out earlier Friday at Baghdad s international airport, Trump tweeted that Soleimani "should have been taken out many years ago!"
....of PROTESTERS killed in Iran itself. While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country. They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe. He should have been taken out many years ago!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020
Soleimani "has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more...but got caught!" Trump said.
His only earlier comments on the dramatic news included a tweet featuring a picture of a US flag and another, cryptic tweet stating that "Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!"
