U.S. Drone Strike Kills Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport

A U.S. drone strike at Baghdad International Airport kills Iranian Quds Force commander General Qasem Soleimani, the most powerful military figure in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Trump orders the strike without advance congressional notification. The administration notifies Congress hours after the strike using the War Powers Resolution''s reporting framework, checking the procedural box while presenting Congress with a fait accompli. Iran responds with ballistic missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops, injuring more than 100 soldiers. The strike and its aftermath heighten tensions that culminate in the 2026 war. Congress passes a bipartisan War Powers Resolution specifically directing Trump to cease hostilities with Iran — which Trump vetoes.