Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells CNN that the assassination of a high-profile Iranian commander, Qassem Soleimani, was celebrated by the people in the region.

“He was driving bad outcomes for the Iraqi people, he was causing many Muslims in the region to be killed,” Pompeo said. “I saw last night there was dancing in the streets in parts of Iraq. We have every expectation that people not only in Iraq, but in Iran, will view the American action last night as giving them freedom.”

Yet, the U.S. drone strike against Soleimani comes after the New Year’s attacks on the U.S. Embassy compound  in Baghdad.

Rioters attempted for two days to storm the United States’ largest embassy and were forced to retreat after the Pentagon airlifting 100 Marines into the compound. Another 700 Army paratroopers are expected to arrive in Kuwait.