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#Soleimani

Extrajudicial Killing
War Crime / Crime Against Humanity

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani: Extrajudicial Killing Without Congressional Authorization

Trump ordered the killing of Iran's most senior military commander without consulting Congress and without a clear and credible imminent threat justification. The strike killed Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles against U.S. forces in Iraq. The administration offered contradictory and later-disputed justifications for the 'imminence' of the claimed threat.

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extrajudicial-killingIrandrone-strikefirst-termwar-powers
Updated January 8, 2020 Foreign Policy & War
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Soleimani Assassination: Drone Strike Without Congressional Notification, Iran Ballistic Missile Response

Soleimani was one of the most senior military commanders of a foreign government. His killing — outside declared combat zones, in the territory of a third country (Iraq) — raised significant questions under international law and the U.S. War Powers Resolution. Congressional leaders, including Senate majority leader McConnell, were not briefed in advance. Iran's ballistic missile response struck Al Asad Air Base and injured 110 U.S. service members; Trump initially told the public no one was hurt. The administration's justification for the strike — an 'imminent threat' — was not substantiated with specific intelligence that was shared with Congress.

Sources
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SoleimaniIranmilitaryfirst-termwar-powers