Qassem Soleimani was an Iranian military commander, born in 1957, who led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for many years. He played a prominent role in Iran's military operations and regional politics, particularly in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and is therefore viewed differently by his supporters: they see him as an influential military leader and a key figure in the fight against ISIS and in supporting Iran's allies. The United States and other countries, however, consider him responsible for supporting armed groups and destabilizing activities in the region. On January 3, 2020, he was killed in a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport, which escalated tensions between the United States and Iran. - @ft2i8