Who is Qassem Soleimani: For Iranians whose icons since the Islamic Revolution have been stern-faced clergy, General Qassem Soleimani was a popular figure of national resilience in the face of four decades of US pressure. For the US and Israel, he was a shadowy figure in command of Iran’s proxy forces, responsible for fighters in Syria backing President Bashar Assad and for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.Who is Qassem Soleimani: For Iranians whose icons since the Islamic Revolution have been stern-faced clergy, General Qassem Soleimani was a popular figure of national resilience in the face of four decades of US pressure. For the US and Israel, he was a shadowy figure in command of Iran’s proxy forces, responsible for fighters in Syria backing President Bashar Assad and for the deaths of American troops in Iraq.