Originally Posted by
bobward
The question on my mind is: who benefits from his demise? The US of course . . .
I don't think the US benefits in any material way. Soleimani will be replaced by someone with the same goals and intentions and leading the same forces with the same resources. Trump may benefit from approval of the move by his supporters, unless the widespread disapproval outweighs that.
. . . but what about within Iran.
Will someone there gain from such a 'popular' soldiers death, which they can conveniently blame on 'the great Satan?'
Of course. The leadership is already benefiting because this situation has diverted the masses from recent protests against the government. Soleimani, however, was a close associate of the "Supreme Leader," so it's pretty unlikely that the Iranians would have chosen this move if they were seeking a false flag option.