US long watched Soleimani, but feared risks of a strike

In 2007, U.S. commandos watched as a convoy carrying a powerful Iranian military leader made its way to northern Iraq.It was a prime opportunity to take out Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who had been accused of aiding Shiite forces that killed thousands of American troops in Iraq.Fears about the repercussions and reverberations of a targeted killing of Soleimani persisted throughout the administrations of President George W. Bush, a Republican, and President Barack Obama, a Democrat, according to offic