Qasem Soleimani

ModernGeneralIran1957 — ?

Quds Force commander killed by US drone strike.

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Quick Facts

Born

1957

Country

Iran

Era

Modern

Occupation

General

Score Overview

Military (10%)67

Political (20%)60

Influence (20%)55

Legacy (20%)56

Leadership (15%)72

Strategy (15%)66

Total Score60.9

Qasem Soleimani — Complete Timeline

1998 AD

Appointed Commander of Quds ForcePolitical Action◆ Major

Qasem Soleimani was appointed commander of the Quds Force, the elite foreign operations branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in 1998. Under his leadership, the Quds Force expanded Iran's influence across the Middle East, supporting allied groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Quds ForceIRGCIranian Influence

Impact: global

2014 AD

Played Key Role in Defeating ISIS in IraqWar◆ Major

Soleimani was instrumental in organizing Iraqi Shia militias and coordinating with Iraqi security forces to counter the Islamic State (ISIS) after its 2014 offensive. He provided strategic advice and logistical support, helping to turn the tide against ISIS. His role made him a hero in Iran and among Shia communities, but a target for the US and its allies.

ISISIraq WarShia Militias

Impact: regional

2020 AD

Killed by US Drone StrikeWar

On January 3, 2020, Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, ordered by President Donald Trump. The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, leader of the Iraqi Kata'ib Hezbollah. The assassination escalated tensions between the US and Iran, leading to Iranian missile strikes on US bases in Iraq.

AssassinationUS-Iran ConflictDrone Strike

Impact: globaltragic