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Trump’s legacy of unintended consequences
When Trump ordered the killing of Qasem Soleimani he couldn’t have predicted his orders would lead to the deaths of 176 innocent civilians, but it did.
On January 8, 2020, Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, was shot down shortly after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.
Two days later, Iran’s government confirmed what the rest of the world was saying or at least thinking.
The Boeing 737–800 was downed as a result of missle strike, not technical malfunctions as they had earlier claimed. Iranian leaders were quick to say the downing was unintentional, confusing the airliner for an incoming missile.
Iran’s defence forces were on “the highest of alert” after launching attacks on Al-Asad airbase and a second base near Erbil. U.S. forces stationed at both locations were well aware the attacks were coming.
Troops had been notified hours earlier that an attack was imminent giving them ample time to shelter in bunkers or be flown to safety.
It is not clear, and we’ll never know why civilian airspace was open during this time. Nor are we likely to know why there wasn’t some level of conversation between civil aviation officials and those within the military.