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Iran attack: Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemns missile strike Iran attack: Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemns missile strike
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson has warned Iran not to repeat "reckless and dangerous" attacks after ballistic missiles were fired at air bases in Iraq where coalition forces are stationed. Boris Johnson has warned Iran not to repeat "reckless and dangerous" attacks after ballistic missiles were fired at air bases in Iraq.
The prime minister called for "urgent de-escalation" after strikes on bases in Irbil and al Asad. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the strikes on bases in Irbil and al Asad were in retaliation for the death of General Qasem Soleimani.
Mr Johnson said Soleimani had "the blood of British troops on his hands" but called for "urgent de-escalation".
He said there were no UK casualties "as far as we can tell".He said there were no UK casualties "as far as we can tell".
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the strikes were in retaliation for the death of General Qasem Soleimani. Mr Johnson's comments were made at his first Prime Minister's Questions since Parliament returned from its Christmas break.
He was killed outside Baghdad airport on Friday in a missile strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.
"We of course condemn the attack on Iraqi military bases hosting coalition forces," Mr Johnson said."We of course condemn the attack on Iraqi military bases hosting coalition forces," Mr Johnson said.
"Iran should not repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks but must instead pursue urgent de-escalation.""Iran should not repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks but must instead pursue urgent de-escalation."
His comments were made at his first Prime Minister's Questions since Parliament returned from its Christmas break. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn questioned the legality of the drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump that killed Soleimani outside killed Soleimani outside outside Baghdad airport on Friday.
Mr Johnson will later discuss the situation at a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The PM said it was not up the UK to determine whether the strike was legal "since it was not our operation", but added: "I think most reasonable people would accept that the United States has the right to protect its bases and its personnel."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said US-Iran tensions were in "real risk" of developing into "full-scale war" and asked the prime minister whether British personnel in the area were safe. His comments come after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab rejected the idea that the killing was an act of war.
Mr Johnson said Soleimani had supplied "improvised explosive devices to terrorists" which "killed and maimed British troops", adding: "That man had the blood of British troops on his hands."
Mr Corbyn's spokesman later said it was "hard to see" how Soleimani's assassination could be justified as a legal action.
"Since the assassination of senior officials, generals, or ministers of internationally recognised governments is, on the face of it, entirely illegal in international law, that defence - the defence of an imminent threat - has to be made public for there to be any question of there being legality around it," the spokesman told a Westminster briefing.
He added: "No such evidence has been forthcoming and, on the face of it, it's hard to see how that would be the case."
It has taken a while to hear from Boris Johnson directly and I suspect that will surprise a lot of people. It's been five days since this crisis erupted and this is the first we've heard from him.
He's only talking about it today, frankly, because he has to at PMQs.
This is because of a new approach from No 10. They want to delegate more responsibility to other cabinet ministers and not have the PM responding to every event and crisis.
But it also reflects the fact that in this post-Brexit world, Mr Johnson is having to perform a very delicate balancing act.
On the one hand he wants to stay close to the Europeans, who we want good relations and a speedy trail deal with. On the other he doesn't want to antagonise the US, with whom we want similar things.
That's why you heard him talking about working solidly with the EU to dial down the conflict but at the same time defending President Trump's right to act as he did.
The bottom line is that as Brexit unfolds, Mr Johnson is going to have to get pretty good at this diplomatic high-wire act.
Mr Corbyn said US-Iran tensions were in "real risk" of developing into "full-scale war" and asked the prime minister whether British personnel in the area were safe.
Mr Johnson said: "As far as we can tell there were no casualties last night sustained by the US and no British personnel were injured in the attacks.Mr Johnson said: "As far as we can tell there were no casualties last night sustained by the US and no British personnel were injured in the attacks.
"We are doing everything we can to protect UK interests in the region, with HMS Defender and HMS Montrose operating in an enhanced state of readiness to protect shipping in the Gulf.""We are doing everything we can to protect UK interests in the region, with HMS Defender and HMS Montrose operating in an enhanced state of readiness to protect shipping in the Gulf."
'British blood on his hands' Mr Johnson will later discuss the situation at a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Mr Corbyn also questioned the legality of the drone strike that killed General Soleimani on 3 January.
The PM said it was not up to him to comment "since it was not our operation", but added: "I think most reasonable people would accept that the United States has the right to protect its bases and its personnel."
Mr Johnson said General Soleimani had supplied "improvised explosive devices to terrorists" which "killed and maimed British troops", adding: "That man had the blood of British troops on his hands."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described the missile attack as "a slap in the face" for the US.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described the missile attack as "a slap in the face" for the US.
The strike showed just a "small part" of the capabilities of the Iranian armed forces, the chief of staff for the military said.The strike showed just a "small part" of the capabilities of the Iranian armed forces, the chief of staff for the military said.
But Iran's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, said the attack was an act of self-defence and the country "does not seek escalation or war".But Iran's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, said the attack was an act of self-defence and the country "does not seek escalation or war".
More than a dozen missiles were fired from Iranian territories into Iraq at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT on Tuesday).More than a dozen missiles were fired from Iranian territories into Iraq at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT on Tuesday).
The al Asad airbase - located in the Anbar province of western Iraq - was hit by at least six missiles.The al Asad airbase - located in the Anbar province of western Iraq - was hit by at least six missiles.
There are about 400 UK troops stationed in Iraq, primarily to assist Iraqi troops in defeating the Islamic State group.There are about 400 UK troops stationed in Iraq, primarily to assist Iraqi troops in defeating the Islamic State group.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are urgently working to establish the facts on the ground. Our first priority continues to be the security of British personnel."A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are urgently working to establish the facts on the ground. Our first priority continues to be the security of British personnel."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added that further "volatility" would only benefit terrorist groups "who will seek to capitalise on instability".Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added that further "volatility" would only benefit terrorist groups "who will seek to capitalise on instability".
In the UK, police were "extremely alert" to any impact the crisis in Iran may have in Britain, the Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick has said.In the UK, police were "extremely alert" to any impact the crisis in Iran may have in Britain, the Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick has said.
On Tuesday, the Royal Navy and military helicopters were put on standby in the Gulf amid the rising tensions in the Middle East.On Tuesday, the Royal Navy and military helicopters were put on standby in the Gulf amid the rising tensions in the Middle East.
The government said non-essential UK personnel had also been moved out of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.The government said non-essential UK personnel had also been moved out of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Iran had vowed "severe revenge" following the assassination of Soleimani.Iran had vowed "severe revenge" following the assassination of Soleimani.
The general - who controlled Iran's proxy forces across the Middle East - was regarded as a terrorist by the US government.The general - who controlled Iran's proxy forces across the Middle East - was regarded as a terrorist by the US government.