Iran pushes back after US threatens to target dozens of sites

Army says US military lacks ‘courage,’ and Tehran’s top diplomat protests that hitting cultural sites is prohibited; Iran MPs chant ‘Death to America’ after Soleimani killing

By AGENCIESToday, 11:39 am

A large crowd surrounds the coffins of slain top commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as they are transported atop a vehicle after their arrival at Ahvaz International Airport in southwestern Iran on January 5, 2020. (FATEMEH RAHIMAVIAN / fars news / AFP)

Iran’s army chief said Sunday that Washington lacked the “courage” to initiate a conflict after US President Donald  Trump threatened to hit dozens of targets inside the Islamic Republic, should Iran attack Americans in retaliation for the US strike that killed top general Qassem Soleimani.

“I doubt they have the courage to initiate” a conflict in which the Americans threatened to strike 52 targets, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also pushed back against Trump, saying targeting “cultural sites is a WAR CRIME,” in a Twitter post.

Iran has promised “harsh revenge” for the US drone strike Friday that killed Soleimani in Iraq.  Already, a series of rockets launched in Baghdad late Saturday fell inside or near the Green Zone, which houses government offices and foreign embassies, including the US Embassy.

Trump wrote on Twitter afterward that the US would target “52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture.”

Trump did not identify the targets but added that they would be “HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.”

He later threatened to send “brand new beautiful [military] equipment their way…and without hesitation!”  Via warsclerotic read more

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Iran pushes back after US threatens to target dozens of sites

z Source: Iran pushes back after US threatens to target dozens of sites | The Times of Israel Army says US military lacks ‘courage,’ and Tehran’s top diplomat protests that hitting cultural sites i…

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