New York City on high alert after US assassination of top Iranian commander
Police and security officials in New York City are on high alert for fear of possible retaliatory attacks in response to the US assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Dermot Shea, the New York City police commissioner, said on Friday the forces were already on "heightened vigilance" and that New Yorkers could expect to see more uniformed officers — some heavily armed with long guns — at sensitive areas.
Shea provided no further details but a heavy police presence is typically seen on the subway, other mass transit, and tourist attractions when police go on heightened alert.
Meanwhile, Bill de Blasio, the New York City mayor, and senior police officials called a news conference as Iran promised vengeance in response to the US airstrike in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, that killed Major General Soleimani early on Friday.
“No one has to be reminded that New York City is the number one terror target in the United States,” de Blasio told reporters. “We have to recognize that this creates a whole series of dangerous possibilities for our city. We are at this point in a de facto state of war between the United States and Iran. None of us knows how this will play out."
Los Angeles, Washington, and other major US cities have also been placed on high alert.
The United States confirmed early in the day that its forces had assassinated General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) — better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi — in an attack at Baghdad’s international airport.
The Pentagon said in a statement that US President Donald Trump had ordered the US military to assassinate the top Iranian commander.
Iran has warned that “harsh revenge" is waiting for the US following the strike that killed the leader of the Quds Force.
The Iranian general was a globally famous defense strategist who played a key role in the counter-terrorism operations that led to the collapse of the Daesh terror group in Iraq and Syria.
The US assassination of Major General Soleimani has drawn a wave of condemnation from officials and movements across the world, and triggered furious public protests in denunciation of the heinous act.
Jeffrey Epstein, the African connection
Protests against Trump administration continue
Explainer: How poor savings and strained social security are fueling America’s retirement crisis
Ukraine says it strikes Russian ‘shadow fleet’ in Mediterranean
Hamas condemns ‘brutal’ Israeli attack on Gaza school
At least 1.6 million in Gaza face ‘acute food insecurity,’ IPC warns
Man convicted of spying for Mossad executed in Iran
VIDEO | Qunaitra residents protest Israeli violations in Syria
UN chief condemns rising Israeli settler violence in occupied West Bank
Use and throw: As US foreign policy priorities shift and Europe falters, Ukraine pays the price
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
