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Iran crisis: Trump says Suleimani 'should have been taken out years ago' – live updates Iran crisis: Trump says Suleimani 'should have been taken out years ago' – live updates
(32 minutes later)
World reacts to news of US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump on Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in BaghdadWorld reacts to news of US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump on Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad
The chairman of Britain’s foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested that the UK government was not aware that the US was going to carry out an airstrike attempting to kill Suleimani.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said “the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other”.
“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us,” he told the BBC News channel.
The world “cannot afford” another war in the Gulf, according to the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, who has issued a statement calling for leaders to “exercise restraint”.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the Ssecretary-general, said:
In Israel, the army has closed Mount Hermon ski resort on the annexed Golan Heights, a disputed territory which borders Syria and Lebanon.
Fighters of the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, Israel’s bitter foe with which it fought a devastating war in 2006, are deployed on the other side of the armistice line.
The AFP press agency reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a foreign visit while defence minister Naftali Bennett chaired a meeting of security chiefs, including the heads of the army, the National Security Council and the Mossad intelligence agency.
Royal Jordanian Airlines have suspended flights to Baghdad Airport due to the security situation in the Iraqi capital, according to a statement being reported by Reuters.
The state carrier, which has eighteen scheduled flights every week to Baghdad, said its flights to other Iraqi cities were not affected and operating normally.
We’d like to hear from US citizens in Iraq about their situation following embassy advice to leave the country.We’d like to hear from US citizens in Iraq about their situation following embassy advice to leave the country.
We would like to hear from you if you are a US citizen in Iraq, or if you know someone who has been affected by the order to evacuate.We would like to hear from you if you are a US citizen in Iraq, or if you know someone who has been affected by the order to evacuate.
You can get in touch by filling in the encrypted form contained in this link and below, anonymously if you wish.You can get in touch by filling in the encrypted form contained in this link and below, anonymously if you wish.
So what next? The word “asymmetric” is being used quite a bit by experts and those familiar with Middle East geopolitics to describe the likely response Iran will take. In short, it won’t be a military one in the conventional sense.So what next? The word “asymmetric” is being used quite a bit by experts and those familiar with Middle East geopolitics to describe the likely response Iran will take. In short, it won’t be a military one in the conventional sense.
Qassem Suleimani had the status of a national hero even among secular Iranians and his death could act as a rallying cry, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani, a doctoral researcher at Soas University of London.Qassem Suleimani had the status of a national hero even among secular Iranians and his death could act as a rallying cry, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani, a doctoral researcher at Soas University of London.
He writes in a piece for the Guardian:He writes in a piece for the Guardian:
Donald Trump has been on Twitter again, this time saying that Suleimani “should have been taken out years ago” and that he was “both hated and feared” within Iran.Donald Trump has been on Twitter again, this time saying that Suleimani “should have been taken out years ago” and that he was “both hated and feared” within Iran.
This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog from Aamna MohdinThis is Ben Quinn picking up the blog from Aamna Mohdin
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested the UK government did not know the US was going to carry out an airstrike to kill Suleimani.The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested the UK government did not know the US was going to carry out an airstrike to kill Suleimani.
Tom Tugendhat told BBC News: “Well I’ve long believed that the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other, and it’s been a pattern, sadly, which has been a bit of a shame, that the US administration of late has not shared with us and that is a matter of concern.Tom Tugendhat told BBC News: “Well I’ve long believed that the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other, and it’s been a pattern, sadly, which has been a bit of a shame, that the US administration of late has not shared with us and that is a matter of concern.
“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us.”“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us.”
He added: “But this is a tactical point. A strategic point is that the United States has rocked the regime much more than for example the death of Osama bin Laden rocked the jihadist movement. This is a much more significant incident.”He added: “But this is a tactical point. A strategic point is that the United States has rocked the regime much more than for example the death of Osama bin Laden rocked the jihadist movement. This is a much more significant incident.”
Tugendhat said the airstrike “will doubtless have consequences”.Tugendhat said the airstrike “will doubtless have consequences”.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said the airstrikes that killed Qassem Suleimani “saved American lives”.The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said the airstrikes that killed Qassem Suleimani “saved American lives”.
Speaking on CNN, Pompeo said the Iranian general was “actively plotting in the region to take action, big actions he described it, that would have put thousands, if not hundreds American lives at risk”.Speaking on CNN, Pompeo said the Iranian general was “actively plotting in the region to take action, big actions he described it, that would have put thousands, if not hundreds American lives at risk”.
Pompeo said the airstrike was driven by “an intelligence-based assessment”, adding: “The American people also know the history of Qassem Suleimani. Hundreds of American lives on his hands too.”Pompeo said the airstrike was driven by “an intelligence-based assessment”, adding: “The American people also know the history of Qassem Suleimani. Hundreds of American lives on his hands too.”
He added: “Last night was the time we needed to strike to make sure that this imminent attack that he was working actively was disrupted.”He added: “Last night was the time we needed to strike to make sure that this imminent attack that he was working actively was disrupted.”
When asked if there was any imminent threat to US homeland, Pompeo said: “These were threats located in the region.”When asked if there was any imminent threat to US homeland, Pompeo said: “These were threats located in the region.”
Pompeo went on to say that Donald Trump has shown “enormous restraint to date”, but added the government had to act because “the risk of doing nothing was enormous. Intelligence community made that assessment.”Pompeo went on to say that Donald Trump has shown “enormous restraint to date”, but added the government had to act because “the risk of doing nothing was enormous. Intelligence community made that assessment.”
You can watch the full interview below.You can watch the full interview below.
Here’s Donald Trump’s latest tweet on the crisis.Here’s Donald Trump’s latest tweet on the crisis.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Donald Trump for “radically and recklessly” escalating tensions in the Middle East.The Liberal Democrats have criticised Donald Trump for “radically and recklessly” escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Lib Dem acting leader, Ed Davey, said: “Iran is governed by a brutal regime which has been openly hostile to the west.The Lib Dem acting leader, Ed Davey, said: “Iran is governed by a brutal regime which has been openly hostile to the west.
“Donald Trump has yet again radically and recklessly escalated tensions in an area where peacekeeping was already on a knife edge.“Donald Trump has yet again radically and recklessly escalated tensions in an area where peacekeeping was already on a knife edge.
“There is a real danger this will stoke further conflict, undermining peace and stability in the region. Given the severity of the crisis, the prime minister must make a statement about the UK’s position immediately.“There is a real danger this will stoke further conflict, undermining peace and stability in the region. Given the severity of the crisis, the prime minister must make a statement about the UK’s position immediately.
“The UK should not automatically follow whatever position the Trump administration takes, but work with a broader group of concerned states at the United Nations.”“The UK should not automatically follow whatever position the Trump administration takes, but work with a broader group of concerned states at the United Nations.”
The US assassination of Qassem Suleimani may have dealt a final blow to hopes of keeping the Iranian nuclear deal alive until the American elections next year, European diplomats fear.The US assassination of Qassem Suleimani may have dealt a final blow to hopes of keeping the Iranian nuclear deal alive until the American elections next year, European diplomats fear.
There is also concern that the Iraqi parliament will seek to expel the 5,000 US troops from Iraq with unpredictable consequences for the region, including the fight against Islamic State.There is also concern that the Iraqi parliament will seek to expel the 5,000 US troops from Iraq with unpredictable consequences for the region, including the fight against Islamic State.
These private concerns were voiced amid public European calls for all sides to de-escalate the crisis, appeals that are unlikely to be heeded in Tehran, which is intent on some form of reprisal.These private concerns were voiced amid public European calls for all sides to de-escalate the crisis, appeals that are unlikely to be heeded in Tehran, which is intent on some form of reprisal.
In a statement that neither condemned nor condoned the killing of Suleimani, the UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qassem Suleimani. Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.”In a statement that neither condemned nor condoned the killing of Suleimani, the UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qassem Suleimani. Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.”
France’s European minister, Amélie de Montchalin, also called for calm. Speaking on French radio, she said any military escalation was always dangerous. “At European level, we have to work in collective multilateral frameworks and prevent the powers, one against the other, from playing their game in an unpredictable manner,” she said. “Our role is not to stand on one side or the other, it is to speak with everyone.”France’s European minister, Amélie de Montchalin, also called for calm. Speaking on French radio, she said any military escalation was always dangerous. “At European level, we have to work in collective multilateral frameworks and prevent the powers, one against the other, from playing their game in an unpredictable manner,” she said. “Our role is not to stand on one side or the other, it is to speak with everyone.”
She said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, would be consulting widely on FridayShe said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, would be consulting widely on Friday
Mike Pompeo has said the US remains committed to de-escalation with Iran in a series of tweets.Mike Pompeo has said the US remains committed to de-escalation with Iran in a series of tweets.
The US secretary of state says he has spoken to the British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and Germany’s minister of foreign affairs, Heiko Maas, about the US decision to kill Suleimani, who commanded Iran’s elite Quds force.The US secretary of state says he has spoken to the British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and Germany’s minister of foreign affairs, Heiko Maas, about the US decision to kill Suleimani, who commanded Iran’s elite Quds force.