The Iranian government is still reeling in the aftermath of the most significant assassination of 21st century. The decision taken by the Donald Trump administration to take out General Qasem Soleimani, on 3rd January 2020 makes for a dramatic and destabilising opening to the decade in the Middle East.
Taking out the head of the unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard devoted to extra-territorial special operations, is a move as powerfully symbolic as it is potentially reckless. The likely response will be aggressive actions through Iran’s proxy militia groups either directly against US assets and soldiers, or a targeted attack against one of America’s allies in the region. The situation in Iraq, which is once again on the brink of civil war, is likely to deteriorate further.
