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Reuters

The United States carried out a secret operation in Yemen that targeted, but failed to kill, an Iranian military official last week, two US officials said on Friday.
The strike was carried out on the same day that the United States killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The timing could suggest that the United States had sought to take out a broader swathe of the Iranian military leadership when it killed Soleimani, citing an imminent threat from him.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the failed strike in Yemen, first reported by The Washington Post.


“The Department of Defence does not discuss alleged operations in the region,” Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Rebecca Rebarich said.
One of the US officials named the Iranian who had been targeted as Abdul Reza Shahlai, a senior officer in the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds force, the unit in charge of foreign operations that had been headed by Soleimani.
The US government says he was based in Yemen and accused him of “a long history of targeting Americans and US allies globally”, including killing US-led coalition forces in Iraq. It has offered a US$15 million reward in connection with him under its “Rewards for Justice” programme.
The United States has accused Shahlai of coordinating a failed 2011 plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States at a cafe in a posh neighbourhood of the US capital.
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“Shahlai approved financial allotments … to help recruit other individuals for the plot, approving US$5 million as payment for all of the operations discussed,” the Treasury Department said.
Soleimani carved out a sphere of Iranian influence running through Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, challenging regional rival Saudi Arabia as well as the United States and Israel.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States killed Soleimani in part because “they were looking to blow up our embassy”.
“And he had more than that particular embassy in mind,” Trump said.

It was unclear whether Shahlai may have been part of that broader plot.
In retaliation for killing Soleimani, Iran fired missiles on Wednesday at bases in Iraq where US troops were stationed.
The escalation has alarmed Democrats in Congress, who voted on Thursday to stop Trump from further military action against Iran.
The measure would order termination of Trump’s war powers to use US armed forces against Iran without Congress’ consent. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is controlled by Trump’s Republican Party, and faces an uphill battle.
Iran tensions: Trump claims Soleimani planned to ‘blow up’ US embassy
Meanwhile, the United States imposed more sanctions on Iran on Friday in retaliation for the missile attacks, vowing to further tighten the screws on the Iranian economy if Tehran continued to engage in what it described as terrorist acts.
The targets of the sanctions included Iran’s manufacturing, mining and textile sectors as well as senior Iranian officials who Washington said were involved in the January 8 attack on military bases housing US troops.
The sanctions were announced by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in an appearance at the White House alongside US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.


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A poster from the website of the “Rewards for Justice” programme, under which the US government is offering a US$15 million reward in connection with Abdul Reza Shahlai. Image: Rewards for Justice

epaselect epa08117329 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (R) participate in a news conference held to announce new sanctions against Iran, in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, in Washington, DC, 10 January 2020. The sanctions are in response to Iran launching missile strikes against two military bases in Iraq that house US forces, 08 January. The Iranian strikes were in retaliation to the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Lieutenant general and commander of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, by a US drone strike in Baghdad. EPA-EFE/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

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Pakistani Shiite Muslims stand on the representations of Israeli and US flags during a demonstration in Peshawar. Photo: AP

dpatop - 09 January 2020, Iran, Rasht: Protesters gather to protest against the murder of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force, who was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad. Photo: Babak Jeddi/SOPA Images via ZUMA Wire/dpa

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Secret operation in Yemen reportedly targeted senior Quds official Abdul Reza Shahlai
US has imposed new sanctions on Iran for revenge missile attack on Iraqi bases housing American troops



Secret operation in Yemen reportedly targeted senior Quds official Abdul Reza Shahlai.


US tried and failed to kill second Iranian leader on day of Qassem Soleimani drone strike

Secret operation in Yemen reportedly targeted senior Quds official Abdul Reza Shahlai US has imposed new sanctions on Iran for revenge missile attack on Iraqi bases housing American troops

Secret operation in Yemen reportedly targeted senior Quds official Abdul Reza Shahlai

US has imposed new sanctions on Iran for revenge missile attack on Iraqi bases housing American troops