But an emerging reporting consensus does indicate that the public justification for the strike — that Soleimani posed an "imminent" threat as he was orchestrating an attack against American troops and sites in the region — was manufactured based on flimsy intelligence. The evolving and contradictory statements within the administration itself demonstrates at least this much. 

And now according to the latest NBC bombshell it's becoming clear that the top IRGC general's killing was actually months in the works:

President Donald Trump authorized the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani seven months ago if Iran's increased aggression resulted in the death of an American, according to five current and former senior administration officials.