Iranian Identifies 35 U.S. Targets For Retaliatory Strikes

Iranian identifies 35 US targets for retaliatory strikes after General Soleimani's death

By LAUREN EDMONDS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

• The potential threat was raised by General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, the commander of the Guards in the southern province of Kerman
• Some of the potential targets include ships in the Gulf, as well as Tel Aviv
• Abuhamzeh said: 'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there'
• Iranian officials and Soleimani's supporters have vowed vengeance against the United States for their role in the airstrike
•  A congressional staffer said the White House expects Iran to retaliate 'within weeks'

An Iranian official says at least 35 U.S. targets have been identified for retaliatory strikes after the country’s president chillingly vowed to exact revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani.

The potential threat was raised by General Gholamali Abuhamzeh, the commander of the Guards in the southern province of Kerman, one day after the top military leader was killed at the Baghdad International Airport.

Targets include ships in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and Tel Aviv.

Abuhamzeh said vital American targets in the region had been identified a ‘long time ago’.

'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there … some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach,' he said, according to Reuters.

A retaliation attack from Iran could be seen 'within weeks' either at home or abroad, a senior congressional staffer told Time.   

The staffer said: 'There is no indication that there is going to be a de-escalation in the near future. The only question is how bad is the retaliation going to be and where and what is it going to hit.'

Abuhamzeh's concerning remarks that Iran has previously identified targets seems to confirm the State Department's reasoning behind the airstrike on Friday. 

The State Department said: 'General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.'

'The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.'

President Donald Trump said Soleimani was plotting 'imminent and sinister' attacks against Americans in a press conference after the airstrike. 

'Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him,' the president revealed in a press conference.  

Although the specific locations of the 35 targets have not been disclosed, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the military base could be potential targets. 

This comes off the heels of the slaying of an American contractor who was killed in a rocket attack a week ago while working at an Iraqi military base in the country's northern region. 

Iran's President Rouhani issues chilling warning that the U.S made a 'grave mistake' and will face the consequences 'for years to come' after Soleimani's family asks for revenge

The President of Iran has issued a chilling warning that the U.S. made a 'grave mistake' by killing the leader of Iran's Quds force, Qassem Soleimani, in an airstrike and that it will face consequences for years to come. 

In a visit to the notorious general's house on Saturday, one of Soleimani's daughter's asked President Hassan Rhouani for revenge.

'Who is going to avenge my father's blood?' she asked. 

In response, he promised her that 'everyone will take revenge' and 'we will, we will avenge his blood , you don't worry.'

'The Americans did not realize what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come,' Rouhani said. 

'This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation.'

Soleimani, 62, was killed in the early hours of Friday, local time, outside Baghdad's International Airport in an airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump.