Provocative video shows Iranian military targeting President Donald Trump in drone strike.
QUICK FACTS:
- Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei released an animated video on his official website depicting the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump.
- The animated video was part of a contest to mark the Jan 3, 2020, killing of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who was slain in an American drone strike in Baghdad, The Times of Israel reports.
- The video appearing on Wednesday shows Iranian military officials maneuvering high-tech surveillance and unmanned combat vehicles toward Trump as he plays golf in a subtropical setting similar to his Florida home, according to The Independent.
- The video threatens that “Soleimani’s murderer and the one who gave the order will pay the price.”
WATCH THE VIDEO:
BACKGROUND:
- Earlier this month, Iran’s hardline President Ebrahim Raisi demanded Trump be “prosecuted and killed,” Times of Israel reports. “If not, I’m telling all American leaders, don’t doubt that the hand of revenge will come out of the sleeves of ummah,” Raisi said, referring to the worldwide community of Muslims.
- Iran announced sanctions on President Trump and 50 other current and former U.S. officials allegedly involved in the operation to kill Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike that also struck and killed Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, former leader of Iran’s militias, The Independent notes.
- Those added to the largely symbolic Iranian sanctions list included general Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and former White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien.
- The US called the sanctions a provocation. “Yesterday, Iran purported to impose sanctions on 51 Americans,” the White House said in a statement published Jan 9. “They do so as Iran’s proxy militias continue to attack American troops in the Middle East, and as Iranian officials threaten to carry out terror operations inside the United States and elsewhere around the world.”
- “Make no mistake: the United States of America will protect and defend its citizens,” the statement went on. “This includes those serving the United States now and those who formerly served. As Americans, we have our disagreements on politics. We have our disagreements on Iran policy. But we are united in our resolve against threats and provocations. We are united in the defense of our people. We will work with our allies and partners to deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran. Should Iran attack any of our nationals, including any of the 51 people named yesterday, it will face severe consequences.”
