Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed an “imminent threat” against American lives forced President Trump to make the decision to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers over the past two decades, was killed Thursday after weeks of counterstrikes following the death of an American contractor and an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

Recommended Stories

Pompeo to do ‘full Ginsburg’ as Trump seeks to use Sunday shows to capitalize on Soleimani killing

Buttigieg won’t credit Trump for Soleimani strike ‘until we know whether this was a good decision’

Pompeo responds to UN report that contends US killing of Soleimani was ‘unlawful’