He was the brains behind some of the most successful skirmishes against ISIS, planning a series of operations that undermined Daesh militancy and hastened their demise. While the USA and Russia brought brute force in the form of airstrikes, Soleimani and his officers were workhorses on the ground, organizing various disparate groups into effective fighting forces. He had a reputation for fearlessness, joining his men in combat on many occasions; this earned Soleimani immense popularity.

My first thought on seeing his face and stocky build yesterday was NPA. However his subdued demeanour and soft voice makes NPA- the most obvious choice. I also consider a man of his age taking on the stresses of frontline fighting whilst presiding over the cerebral aspects of desert warfare to fit the profile of a dogged NPA- type.

Here's the full version of the Soleimani interview, which unfortunately lacks subtitles: