Crenshaw Statement on U.S. Strike Killing Qassem Soleimani

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dan Crenshaw released the below statement following reports that a strike conducted by American forces killed Commander of the IRGC-Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani:

“Tonight’s strike was historic and America is better off because of it. One of the world’s most pre-eminent sponsors of terrorism, Qassem Soleimani, is now dead. He spent more than 20 years spreading death and destruction across the region, to include engineering and providing IEDs to Shia militias in Iraq that were used to kill hundreds of Americans.

“Abu Mahdi al Muhandis was also killed. He was the leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia beholden to the Iranian Quds Force and responsible for attacks against Americans, most recently the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on December 31, 2019.

“While this swift and decisive act is welcome news, we must also prepare for a response from a desperate and embattled Iranian regime. Now is the time we must come together as a country to confront Iranian aggression and defend the tenets of freedom, like we always have. This should be the first item of business for Congress in the new year. Domestically, we must be unified and objective as we address the reality of the current situation and not look to lay blame for the past. Globally, we must be a leader and support our allies who are on the front lines and directly face the Iranian threat.

“Tonight is a good night for America, Iraq and the region.”

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