Qasim Soleimani was an Iranian major general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He was born on March 11, 1957, and became the commander of the Quds Force, a unit responsible for extraterritorial operations. Soleimani played a significant role in Iran's military strategy and was influential in supporting various groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shia militias in Iraq. On January 3, 2020, Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. His death heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, leading to widespread protests in Iran and calls for retaliation. Soleimani is often viewed as a controversial figure, admired by some for his military leadership and criticized by others for his role in regional conflicts.