10. Killing of Qassem Soleimani (2020)
On January 3, 2020, a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force. This targeted assassination led to retaliatory strikes by Iran, including missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq, significantly escalating tensions between the two nations. The incident marked a significant deterioration in U.S.-Iran relations, raising concerns about potential military conflict in the region. For more details, see Reuters.
