Iran's supreme leader has appointed deputy commander of the country's elite Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, successor to Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed early Friday in a US airstrike in Iraq.
The force's program "will be unchanged from the time of his predecessor," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement published by state media.
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Iranian state TV carried a statement by Khamenei also calling Soleimani "the international face of resistance." Khamenei declared three days of public mourning for the general's death.
"All Enemies should know that the jihad of resistance will continue with a doubled motivation, and a definite victory awaits the fighters in the holy war," the Iranian leader added.
The United States killed Iran's top general and the architect of Tehran's proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.
The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.
The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020
The targeted killing of Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, could draw forceful Iranian retaliation against American interests in the region and spiral into a far larger conflict between the US and Iran, endangering US troops in Iraq, Syria and beyond, and which could also engulf ally Israel.
The security cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene at noon on Friday to discuss the developing situation and possible Iranian responses, likely via the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.
Video: Reuters
The Defense Department said it killed Soleimani because he "was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region." It also accused Soleimani of approving the attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week.
An adviser to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani quickly warned US President Donald Trump of retaliation from Tehran.
"Trump through his gamble has dragged the US into the most dangerous situation in the region," Hessameddin Ashena wrote on the social media app Telegram. "Whoever put his foot beyond the red line should be ready to face its consequences."
Iranian state television later in a commentary called Trump's order to kill Soleimani "the biggest miscalculation by the US" in the years since World War II. "The people of the region will no longer allow Americans to stay," the TV said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, "The brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani ... will undoubtedly make the tree of resistance in the region and the world more prosperous."
On Twitter he said the assassination of Soleimani was "an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation."
"The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism," he said in the post.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that his organization, which is Iran's chief proxy in the Middle East, "will continue path of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, to achieve his goals," Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV channel reported.
Hamas spokesman Bassem Naim said on Twitter that the assassination "opens the doors of the region to all possibilities, except calm & stability. USA bears the responsibility for that."
Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020
Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Soleimani "joined his martyred brothers, but we will take vigorous revenge on America."
The airport strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, and five others, including the PMF's airport protocol officer, Mohammed Reda, Iraqi officials said.
American presidents claim broad authority to act without the approval of the Congress when US personnel or interests are facing an imminent threat, and Trump allies were quick to praise the action.
"To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said via Twitter: "Iraqis – Iraqis – dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more."
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called Soleimani "an archterrorist with American blood on his hands."
She said on Twitter: "His demise should be applauded by all who seek peace and justice. Proud of President Trump for doing the strong and right thing."
Senator James Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: "America does not and should not seek war, but it will respond in kind to those who threaten our citizens, soldiers and friends – as the President has long promised. De-escalation is preferable and possible – but only if our adversaries choose it."
On the other side of the political aisle, however, the US strike was met with condemnation and reservation.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders released a statement saying, "Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the administration conducted the airstrike without consultation of Congress or authorization for use of military force against Iran. She said it "risks provoking further dangerous escalation of violence."
Former US Vice President Joe Biden call the assassination "a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region ... President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners throughout the region and beyond."
US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said: "Soleimani was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans. But this reckless move escalates the situation with Iran and increases the likelihood of more deaths and new Middle East conflict. Our priority must be to avoid another costly war."
US Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said while Soleimani was "an enemy of the United States," the killing could put more Americans at risk.
"One reason we don't generally [assassinate] foreign political officials is the belief that such action will get more, not less, Americans killed," Murphy said on Twitter.
"That should be our real, pressing and grave worry tonight."
