![CORRECTION - (COMBO) This combination of file photos shows a handout picture provided by the office of the Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on June 4, 2019 of Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qasem Soleimani (L) in Tehran; and a file photo taken on December 31, 2019 of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (R), a commander in the Popular Mobilization Forces, attending a funeral procession of Hashed al-Shaabi fighters in Baghdad. - A US strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and the deputy head of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, at Baghdad's airport early on January 3, 2020, the Hashed announced. (Photo by Handout and Ahmad AL-RUBAYE / IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER'S WEBSITE / AFP) / --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KHAMENEI.IR" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this combo photo has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [January 3, 2020 in the second sentence] instead of [January 3, 2019]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/b58374bc4122ead14bfc8aed3801a691?width=650)
General’s killing lifts US-Iran tensions
One Iranian response might be to launch asymmetric attacks on US personnel and bases across the Middle East.
Our Team
Latest
Reinvented ISIS on a road to revenge
Baghdadi’s transformation into a martyr will give fighters worldwide a reason to avenge his death. We will see a rash of vengeance attacks.
Trump may back-pedal but damage done
Donald Trump could yet join the Kurds as a victim of the US hurried withdrawal from Syria.
America’s blood sacrifice
US and Kurdish troops were allies in Syria; 24 hours later the Kurds were abandoned.
‘Defeated’ ISIS is not enough
It’s abandoned its strategically suicidal attempt to be a physical state, but ISIS will emerge better and tougher than before.
Video reveals an armed coward
Brenton Tarrant’s video is chilling, and more revealing than his manifesto.
AFTERLIFE OF THE CALIPHATE
Islamic State is down but not quite out, and it could be revived.
Ghost of a chance in talks with Taliban
It’s in everyone’s interest to end the Afghan war — but the government in Kabul might prove to be a stumbling block.
We’re still suckers, Mr President – but that could be fixed
Donald Trump should have linked his Syrian pullout and Afghan drawdown to moves towards stabilisation.
Withdrawal symptoms
Critics ignore the merits of Donald Trump’s Syrian strategy.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/david-kilcullen/page/4