When the Pentagon confirmed the US “President’s order” to kill the commander of Iranian elite force Al-Quds, the Iranian government condemned the attack.
However, internationally there have been several reactions to the attack, which many describe as “dangerous”.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, offering “sincere condolences to the Iranian people”, declared that the “killing” of the Iranian general was “a risky step that will lead to increased tensions in the region.“Russia further recalled that” Soleimani has faithfully served Iran’s interests. “
In France the call for “stability” in the Middle East, through Amélie de Montchalin, Secretary of State for European Affairs, who told RTL radio that we are “in a more dangerous world” and that “military escalation is always dangerous”.
“When these operations occur, we can clearly see that climbing is underway, when we want stability and a decrease (of climbing) above all,” he stressed.
China “has long been opposed to the use of force in international relations” and expressed “concern” after the attack on Baghdad.
Through Chinese diplomacy spokesman Geng Shuang, he urged “all parties, especially the United States, to remain calm and restrained to prevent further escalation of tension” as well as “respect” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Iraq.
Iraq and Syria condemn “dangerous escalation”
Iraqi resigning Prime Minister Adel Abdelmahdi condemned the US air strike, saying it was “a dangerous escalation that unleashes a destructive war in Iraq, the region and the world.”
“Accountability operations against Iraqi leadership figures on Iraqi soil are a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty and an attack on the dignity of the country,” he said.
Deploring the general’s death, Adel Abdelmahdi recalled that this attack violates the conditions and role of US forces in Iraq and, however, called on the parliament to convene an extraordinary session to “adopt necessary legislative and necessary measures to safeguard dignity, security and sovereignty of Iraq “.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a leading figure in Iraqi politics, also reacted and defined the assassination of Iraqi general Qassem Soleimani as “an unjustified attack”.
“Cowardly US aggression” is as the Syrian Government describes the air strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. This operation “will only reinforce the determination to follow the lead of these resistance leaders,” said a source from the Foreign Ministry in Damascus, quoted by Sana.
Already the head of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, Iran’s ally, has promised “a fair punishment” to “criminal killers” for the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
–
Iran warns US and promises revenge
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s head of diplomacy, warned that this attack was an “extremely dangerous escalation”.
“The United States act of international terrorism … is extremely dangerous and a reckless escalation,” he wrote on Twitter.
The US ‘act of international terrorism, targeting & murdering General Soleimani — The most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda and others — is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.
The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.
– Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, also responded by declaring three days of national mourning and promising that the death of the Iranian general, regarded as an “international symbol of resistance”, will be avenged.
“Martyrdom is the reward for tireless work all these years. God willing, your work and your way will not end here. Ruthless revenge awaits the criminals who have filled their hands with their blood and the blood of other martyrs “said Ali Khamenei, quoted by France-Presse (AFP).
The Iranian President also assured that Iran and “other free nations in the region” will take revenge on the United States for the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
The flag of General Soleimani in defense of the territorial nation integrity and the fight against terrorism and extremism in the region will be raised, and the path of resistance to US excesses will continue. The great nation of Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime.
– Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 3, 2020
–
In a statement, Hassan Rouhani said the “martyr” General Soleimani “left the heart of the Iranian nation and all the nations of the region mourning.”
The Iraqi parliament has announced, however, that it will hold an emergency session on Saturday to discuss the attack.
Hassan al-Kaabi, the Iraqi parliament’s vice-president, stressed that it was “time to end US recklessness and ignorance,” adding that Saturday’s session would be devoted to “decisions to end the US presence in Iraq.” Iraq”.
In the airstrike at Baghdad International Airport, Qassem Soleimani was killed and the ‘number two’ of the coalition of pro-Iranian paramilitary groups in Iraq, Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis, known as Popular Mobilization.
C / Lusa
– .
