The Strike That Killed Iranian General Soleimani In January Was So Secret That Even U.S. Spy Satellites Were Unaware

Burning debris seen on a road near Baghdad International Airport, which Iraqi paramilitary groups say were caused by three rockets, on January 3, 2020. Iraqi Security Media Cell via Reuters

Newsweek: The Strike That Killed Iran's Top General Was So Secret Even U.S. Spy Satellites Were Kept in the Dark

It was the end of an otherwise unremarkable Thursday in January for service members stationed at the U.S. complex at Baghdad International Airport. But just minutes after midnight, Hellfire missiles broke the quiet as they rained down on a far corner of the sprawling site known as BIAP.

"It was like, 'oh s--- we got struck,'" an active member of the U.S. armed forces who was stationed at the airport told Newsweek. The member's named is being withheld because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.

Iraqi personnel also scrambled in response to the shocking, mysterious strike on "one of the safest roads we have here in the capital," as one Iraqi official described it to Newsweek. But not far from where both military and civilian flights had been operating as usual, two vehicles were left smoldering on a road along the eastern stretch of the airport.

"It was surreal," the Iraqi official, who was not authorized to speak with the media, later told Newsweek.

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WNU Editor: I suspect that we still only know 5% on what was the planning and execution for this operation.