Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) heavily criticized President Trump's decision to order the airstrike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, and Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes while they were in a car at the Baghdad International Airport.
Tuesday night, Iran responded to the strike by launching multiple ballistic missiles at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed. No U.S. or Iraqi service members were killed in the attack.
"This is the result of reckless actions by President Trump of military brinksmanship," Jayapal said at a press conference. "President Trump recklessly assassinated Qassem Soleimani. He had no evidence of an imminent threat or attack."
Jayapal said no "raw evidence" of an imminent attack by Iranian proxy forces was presented at the classified briefing members of Congress attended.
The Department of Defense justified the Soleimani strike because it said he was in the country to carry out more attacks against Americans and U.S. allies in the region. Soleimani helped plan the attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Eve that was carried out by Iranian-backed militias.
In response to the missile attack, Trump announced on Wednesday the U.S. will impose more economic sanctions on Iran instead of using military force.
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"Iran has been the leading sponsor of terror and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world," Trump said. "Iran’s hostilities substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013, and they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash. Instead of saying 'thank you' to the United States, they chanted 'death to America.' In fact, they chanted 'death to America' the day the agreement was signed. Then, Iran went on a terror spree, funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq."
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