Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared three days of mourning after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC') Quds Force, by the United States near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

“The great and glorious commander of Islam is in heaven now,” began the statement issued by Khamenei after the news broke of Soleimani’s death along with the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, in the US drone strike. “For years he fought purely and bravely against the world devils and miscreants, and for years with the hope of martyrdom, finally dear Soleimani reached this grand post,” read the statement.

“With his absence … his path will not be suspended or closed, but there is severe revenge for criminals” who did this, the statement continued. He called Soleimani “an international resistance figure," adding "the path of resistance will continue with extra motivation” and “the absence of our dedicated and dear commander is bitter, but the continued struggle and reaching a final victory will make the palates of the murderers and criminals more bitter.”

Khamenei called for three days of mourning for Soleimani’s and Muhandis’ deaths. Khamenei also appointed Brig. Gen. Ismael Ghaani the new commander of the Quds Force. Ghaani was previously deputy commander of the Quds Force.