Who is Soleimani Who Made the World Threatened by World War III ?

Signs of World War III erupted increasingly widely after Iran, General Qasem Soleimani. Last Friday (1/3/2020), his death made the eyes of the world fixed on the Middle East.

Imagine, Soleimani was killed by an air strike by US military forces near Baghdad Airport, Iraq. Then who is Soleimani?

The Washington Post journalist Adam Taylor wrote the general's figure in an article entitled "Qasem Soleimani: Who was Iran's powerful military leader?"

Apart from his 'petite and calm' stature, Soleimani is considered one of the leading generals in the Middle East by the United States and allies. As the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the 62-year-old man bears responsibility for Iran's covert operations abroad. Secretly, Soleimani successfully expanded Iran's military outreach to Syria and Iraq.

Some analysts even rated Soleimani to have a greater diplomatic influence than Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Speculation even arose, lest the Kerman-born general intend to become President of Iran.

Long story short, Soleimani's military career began shortly after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. He even participated in the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"More than anyone, Soleimani is responsible for creating the 'arc of influence' or 'axis of resistance' that forms from the Gulf of Oman through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea," said former FBI agent Ali Soufan.

During the war with Iraq in the period 1980 to 1988, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards succeeded in gaining political and economic power. The fierce war also shaped the character of Soleimani, a young man who came from the southeast of Iran's mountains.

In the late 1990s, Soleimani was given control of the Quds Force, wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard devoted to external affairs. The Quds had a long history, including helping to establish Hezbollah in Lebanon in the early 1980s. Under the leadership of Soleimani, they expanded their influence in the region.

After the US invasion of Iraq succeeded in overthrowing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 2003, the Quds Force began to assist Shiite militias in the country when they fought against US forces. Most recently, the Pentagon estimated the Quds Force had killed 608 US troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.

Then, in the civil war in Syria, the massive intervention of the Quds Force changed the course of the war in the interests of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Tehran.

The influence of Soleimani as leader of the Quds Force is not only felt in the Middle East. A few years ago, he was also linked to the assassination attempt of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States in an Italian restaurant in Georgetown.

Long story short, after US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear agreement between Iran and other world countries, the Quds Force was at the center of tension between Iran and the US.

In Iraq, Shia militias launched attacks after attacks on the United States. After one of the attacks killed a contractor from the land of Uncle Sam, the US launched an air strike on a military base along the border with Syria that was used by the Hezbollah Kataib group. The attack killed 25 militia members and injured more than 50 militia members.

On the eve of last year's year, Shia militias and their supporters stormed the US Embassy complex in Baghdad. Although no one was killed in the incident, Trump said Iran must be responsible for the action.

"They will take full responsibility," Trump said via his Twitter account.

The air raid on Friday morning did not just kill Soleimani. Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed.

Analysts agree Soleimani is a unique and possibly irreplaceable figure in Iran. However, after the news of his death, many asked what was the effect of the general's death.

"The pressure to retaliate will be enormous," said middle east expert from Johns Hopkins University via his Twitter account.

The escalating geopolitical tension between the US and Iran became hot talk among Twitter social media users on Friday (1/3/2020). At that time, the word "Iran" topped the list of world trending topics. Meanwhile, Soleimani, who was killed in a US attack, placed fourth.

Interestingly, world trending topics number five and seven were filled by "WWIII" and "World War 3". The escalating geopolitical tension between the US and Iran has fueled fears that a third world war will soon erupt.

This is actually only natural. Because, the Pentagon has now confirmed the death of Soleimani. Some time ago, the Pentagon confirmed the death of Soleimani in an attack launched by the US using drones.

Soleimani itself has been sanctioned by the US since 2007 and in May 2019, Washington decided to label Revolutionary Guards, along with all of its parts, as terrorist organizations, marking the first time the label was given to an official military institution of a country.

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