Trump says Iranian should have been ‘taken out’ years ago

PALM BEACH, FL (AP) — President Donald Trump says the targeted killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was ordered because he was “plotting to kill” many Americans.

Trump said Friday in his first comments on the killing of the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force that Soleimani was also responsible for killing and wounding “thousands” of Americans and many more in the region.

Trump tweeted from his private club in Florida that Soleimani “should have been taken out many years ago!”

General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more…but got caught! He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

The deadly U.S. strike in Iraq marked a major escalation in the conflict between Washington and Iran. Iran has vowed “harsh retaliation.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defends the strike as “wholly lawful.”