Rep. Sherrill Statement on the Death of Qasem Soleimani

Parsippany, NJ -- Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement on the airstrike at Baghdad International Airport which killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani:

"Qasem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American servicemen and women. He left a trail of destruction across the Middle East as an Iranian general who directed paramilitary and terrorist organizations throughout region. The Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations have long understood the threat Soleimani posed, and developed contingencies to eliminate that threat. Until now, Presidents determined these plans of attack against Soleimani would escalate tensions in the region and would be counterproductive to U.S. interests.

"President Trump authorized Thursday's strike based on what he believed to be an ‘imminent threat.' It is incumbent upon him now to fully brief Congress so that we may assess this threat ourselves. Furthermore, in order to best protect American citizens and interests across the world, he needs to share his strategy going forward and explain to the American people why he has made this decision. The President must engage in diplomacy and articulate a larger strategy that will limit Iran's nuclear program, ensure that we can safely maintain a troop presence on the ground in Iraq to eliminate an ISIS resurgence, and move us toward a stable Middle East."

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