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Iran missile attack: Iraq says it received advance warning from Tehran – live updates Iran missile attack: Iraq says it received advance warning from Tehran – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Pentagon confirms missiles targeting at least two bases as Revolutionary Guards claim attack ‘in name of Suleimani’Pentagon confirms missiles targeting at least two bases as Revolutionary Guards claim attack ‘in name of Suleimani’
Poland’s Foreign Ministry says its ambassador to Iraq, Beata Peksa, has been evacuated to Poland for security reasons amid the rising tensions between the US and Iran, reports the Associated Press. Major airlines have cancelled Iran and Iraq flights and rerouted others away from both countries’ airspace, Reuters reports.
The evacuation was at Britain’s request because Poland’s diplomatic mission is located in the British Embassy. According to Poland’s foreign ministry only the ambassador was evacuated while its embassy in Baghdad continues its work. Germany’s Lufthansa, Dubai-based Emirates and the low-cost flydubai were among airlines that cancelled flights, as the US Federal Aviation Administration barred American carriers from the area. Several other carriers will continue operations over the affected airspace.
This is from the Telegraph’s Middle East correspondent, Raf Sanchez – This is from the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour:
The twitter account for the Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has issued a statement saying that he received a verbal message from the Iranians shortly after midnight saying that their “response to the assassination of the martyr Qassem Soleimani had begun or would start shortly” and would be limited to US military stationed in Iraq. At the same time they were informed by the Americans that strikes had begun against US forces at various locations in Iraq. Iran says it will not hand over the black box of the Ukrainian plane to Boeing. The black box containing vital records of how the plane crashed has been located in a field among the debris of the plane outside Tehran.
It is not clear whether Iranian authorities are disputing the legality of handing over the black box to Boeing, or whether they are seeking to inspect the box themselves.
The Ukrainian government has deleted a tweet saying the plane’s crash was the result of an accident.
The news has fuelled speculation that there is something suspicious about the downing of the plane, with one theory doing the rounds on social media that Iran could have mistaken the plane for an incoming US military aircraft.
Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, has tweeted that the country’s “final answer” to the assassination of Gen Qassem Suleimani will be to “kick all US forces out of the region”.
From the Guardian’s Michael Safi:
Poland’s foreign ministry says its ambassador to Iraq, Beata Peksa, has been recalled to Poland for security reasons amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, reports the Associated Press.
The evacuation came at Britain’s request because Poland’s diplomatic mission is located in the British embassy. According to Poland’s foreign ministry, only the ambassador was evacuated while its embassy in Baghdad continues its work.
This is from the Telegraph’s Middle East correspondent, Raf Sanchez:
The Twitter account for the Iraqi prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, has issued a statement saying he received a verbal message from the Iranians shortly after midnight saying that their “response to the assassination of the martyr Qassem Soleimani had begun or would start shortly” and would be limited to US military stationed in Iraq. At the same time, they were informed by the Americans that strikes had begun against US forces at various locations in Iraq.
The statement said there had not been any Iraqi casualties reported so far and they had not been told of losses by coalition forces.The statement said there had not been any Iraqi casualties reported so far and they had not been told of losses by coalition forces.
Here is a passage, translated using Google translate: “We have called, and we call on all, to exercise restraint ... adhere to international covenants, respect the Iraqi state and the decisions of its government, and help it to contain and overcome this serious crisis threatening it, the region, and the world with a devastating, comprehensive war.” Here is a passage, translated using Google translate: “We have called, and we call on all, to exercise restraint … adhere to international covenants, respect the Iraqi state and the decisions of its government, and help it to contain and overcome this serious crisis threatening it, the region, and the world with a devastating, comprehensive war.”
The EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has commented on tensions between Iran and the US. She said “the use of weapons must stop now to give space for dialogue”.The EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has commented on tensions between Iran and the US. She said “the use of weapons must stop now to give space for dialogue”.
The Twitter account for Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has issued the following statements:The Twitter account for Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has issued the following statements:
The Guardian’s international correspondent Michael Safi has this analysis of last night’s events.The Guardian’s international correspondent Michael Safi has this analysis of last night’s events.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that his country would strike back hard against anyone who attacked it, as he reiterated his support for the US killing of the Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week.The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that his country would strike back hard against anyone who attacked it, as he reiterated his support for the US killing of the Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani last week.
“Whoever tries to attack us will be dealt the strongest blow,” Netanyahu said, according to Reuters. He said Israel “stands completely” behind Trump’s decision and that the president should be congratulated for acting “swiftly, boldly and resolutely”.“Whoever tries to attack us will be dealt the strongest blow,” Netanyahu said, according to Reuters. He said Israel “stands completely” behind Trump’s decision and that the president should be congratulated for acting “swiftly, boldly and resolutely”.
The US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has said preliminary reports on the Iranian strikes were “positive”.The US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has said preliminary reports on the Iranian strikes were “positive”.
“Initial assessments are positive and we pray those reports are true. Our military is by far the strongest in the world and our cause is just,” Friedman, a former Trump bankruptcy lawyer, said at an event hosted by the rightwing Kohelet Policy Forum in Jerusalem.“Initial assessments are positive and we pray those reports are true. Our military is by far the strongest in the world and our cause is just,” Friedman, a former Trump bankruptcy lawyer, said at an event hosted by the rightwing Kohelet Policy Forum in Jerusalem.
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has told the chief of the Australian defence force “to take whatever actions are necessary” to protect Australian troops and diplomats in Iraq after Iran began bombing allied military bases. Morrison said all defence and diplomatic staff in the country were safe, reports Guardian Australia’s Ben Doherty.The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has told the chief of the Australian defence force “to take whatever actions are necessary” to protect Australian troops and diplomats in Iraq after Iran began bombing allied military bases. Morrison said all defence and diplomatic staff in the country were safe, reports Guardian Australia’s Ben Doherty.
David Smith, the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief, has written about how the US clash with Iran echoes the march into the Iraq war.David Smith, the Guardian’s Washington bureau chief, has written about how the US clash with Iran echoes the march into the Iraq war.
Ukraine’s foreign minister has released more information about the people onboard the plane bound for Kiev that crashed minutes after taking off from Tehran’s main international airport. Among the plane’s passengers were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians (two passengers and nine crew), 10 Swedish people, four people from Afghanistan, three from Germany and three from the UK.Ukraine’s foreign minister has released more information about the people onboard the plane bound for Kiev that crashed minutes after taking off from Tehran’s main international airport. Among the plane’s passengers were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians (two passengers and nine crew), 10 Swedish people, four people from Afghanistan, three from Germany and three from the UK.
Ukraine’s national security council has confirmed that 11 Ukrainian citizens died in the crash of an Ukrainian airliner in Iran, including nine crew members.Ukraine’s national security council has confirmed that 11 Ukrainian citizens died in the crash of an Ukrainian airliner in Iran, including nine crew members.
In a separate statement, reported by Reuters, Ukraine International Airlines said it was suspending flights to Tehran indefinitely and that the crashed plane had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday. The airline said it was doing everything possible to find out the causes of the crash and that it was providing all possible assistance to the relatives of those killed.In a separate statement, reported by Reuters, Ukraine International Airlines said it was suspending flights to Tehran indefinitely and that the crashed plane had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday. The airline said it was doing everything possible to find out the causes of the crash and that it was providing all possible assistance to the relatives of those killed.
The Conservative MP Tom Tugenhat, who was chairman of the defence committee during the last UK parliament, has been speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He said the Iran attack on US military bases in Iraq was “not hugely surprising”.The Conservative MP Tom Tugenhat, who was chairman of the defence committee during the last UK parliament, has been speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He said the Iran attack on US military bases in Iraq was “not hugely surprising”.
He said it would be “extremely welcome” if the action marked the end of the tensions and both sides could “get back to talking”.He said it would be “extremely welcome” if the action marked the end of the tensions and both sides could “get back to talking”.
The Ukrainian embassy to Iran has said preliminary information suggests engine failure caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, rather than a missile attack or act of terrorism. Reuters reports that the embassy also said in a statement that 168 people had bought tickets for the flight.The Ukrainian embassy to Iran has said preliminary information suggests engine failure caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, rather than a missile attack or act of terrorism. Reuters reports that the embassy also said in a statement that 168 people had bought tickets for the flight.