Iraqis dancing on streets over death of Soleimani: US

In the 22-second video people are seen running on a road carrying a several meter-long Iraq national flag. This comes hours after the United States confirmed that Soleimani has been killed in a defence strike near Baghdad International Airport.

Washington: Iraqis are celebrating the death of Iran's elite Quds Force chief General Qassem Soleimani, by "dancing in the street", said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while sharing a video of people holding a rally.

In the 22-second video which Pompeo shared on Twitter, people are seen running on a road carrying a several meter-long Iraq national flag. The video is of some unspecified location in Iraq.

This comes hours after the United States confirmed that Soleimani has been killed in a defence strike near Baghdad International Airport.

"Iraqis -- Iraqis -- dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more," Pompeo tweeted.

• Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4

  — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4

  — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020

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  Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4

  — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020

  
  

Besides Soleimani, Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and five others were also killed in the US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport, reported Iraqi officials and state television.

The attack has come days after an Iran-backed militia and other protesters attacked the United States Embassy in Baghdad.

The attack on the embassy came as a retaliation to a US airstrike that killed at least 25 people of the Popular Mobilization Forces.