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Boris Johnson strongly backs US decision to kill Qassem Suleimani Overt phase in Iran-US conflict 'probably over', British sources say
(about 8 hours later)
PM supports Trump strike, saying most reasonable people would think it justified Experts believe Iran chose to miss when it fired missiles at military base in Iraq housing US troops
Boris Johnson has strongly backed the US’s decision to kill the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a missile strike, telling prime minister’s questions that while he could not comment on the legality of the act, “most reasonable people” would think the operation was justified. The overt phase of the conflict between Iran and the US is probably over, British sources believe, because Tehran appeared to have chosen to miss when it failed to inflict any casualties with the missiles and rockets it fired at two military bases in Iraq.
The judgment is that the attack on bases housing US troops in the early hours of Wednesday was demonstrative, given that the Iranian missiles used were believed to be accurate to a range of 50 metres and could have caused more serious damage if Tehran had wanted to.
A warning from Iran also meant that coalition forces knew in time that the missiles were incoming and that steps could be taken to avoid casualties as the al-Asad and Erbil bases. “People had enough time to take cover,” a defence source said.
However, the concern remains that Iran will order a more deadly covert response in the future, reflecting that a belief that despite the US killing of the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, the regime in Tehran remains in the control of hardliners.
For now there remains considerable relief in British circles that an extended conflict appears to have been averted after Donald Trump signalled on Wednesday that no military action would be taken in response to the overnight rocket attack.
Defence sources said Trump had briefed Boris Johnson on the contents of his statement in a phone call earlier on Wednesday afternoon, to reassure the UK that immediate military action was off the table.
There were a handful of British troops based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region of Iraq, alongside American forces. UK personnel moved out of the al-Asad base last year, the Ministry of Defence said earlier on Wednesday.
Earlier, Johnson strongly backed the US’s decision to kill Suleimani in a missile strike, telling prime minister’s questions that while he could not comment on the legality of the act, “most reasonable people” would think the operation was justified.
Making his first parliamentary appearance of the year, following Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US and coalition troops overnight, the prime minister condemned the Iranian response, and called for calm.Making his first parliamentary appearance of the year, following Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US and coalition troops overnight, the prime minister condemned the Iranian response, and called for calm.
Jeremy Corbyn told PMQs that the US attack had greatly destabilised the region, accusing Johnson of being “unable to stand up to President Trump” because of his need for a swift post-Brexit trade deal with the US.Jeremy Corbyn told PMQs that the US attack had greatly destabilised the region, accusing Johnson of being “unable to stand up to President Trump” because of his need for a swift post-Brexit trade deal with the US.
Johnson began by condemning the Iranian strikes, which did not kill or injure any coalition forces. “Iran should not repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks but must instead pursue urgent de-escalation,” he said.Johnson began by condemning the Iranian strikes, which did not kill or injure any coalition forces. “Iran should not repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks but must instead pursue urgent de-escalation,” he said.
Asked by Corbyn whether he would oppose “any further retaliation or escalation in violence”, the PM confirmed he would, pointing to joint European calls for calm and saying he was “working solidly” with allies over this.Asked by Corbyn whether he would oppose “any further retaliation or escalation in violence”, the PM confirmed he would, pointing to joint European calls for calm and saying he was “working solidly” with allies over this.
The Labour leader then asked whether the US operation to kill Suleimani was permitted under international law. He said: “The government has said that it is sympathetic to the assassination of General Suleimani. What evidence has the prime minister got to suggest that this attack on him and his death was not an illegal act by the United States?” Johnson’s remarks followed foreign secretary Dominic Raab describing the Iranian retaliatory strikes as “reckless and dangerous” and calling on Tehran “to pursue urgent de-escalation”.
At PMQs, Corbyn asked Johnson if he believed that the US operation to kill Suleimani was permitted under international law.
Johnson replied: “Clearly the strict issue of legality is not for the UK to determine, since it was not our operation. But I think most reasonable people would accept that the United States has a right to protect its bases and its personnel.”Johnson replied: “Clearly the strict issue of legality is not for the UK to determine, since it was not our operation. But I think most reasonable people would accept that the United States has a right to protect its bases and its personnel.”
The prime minister further defended the operation, saying Suleimani had been a long-time instigator of violence in the region and had “the blood of British troops on his hands”. The PM further defended the operation, saying Suleimani had been a long-time instigator of violence in the region and had “the blood of British troops on his hands”.
Corbyn said he was not convinced by this argument: “If we stand by international law, as I’m sure the government does and would want to, then surely killing somebody in a foreign territory is an illegal act and should be condemned as such. If we believe in international law, that should be the solution to the problems in the world.”Corbyn said he was not convinced by this argument: “If we stand by international law, as I’m sure the government does and would want to, then surely killing somebody in a foreign territory is an illegal act and should be condemned as such. If we believe in international law, that should be the solution to the problems in the world.”
He went on to condemn the US killing, and to say that Johnson was unable to challenge Trump on his actions. The Labour leader went on to condemn the US killing, and to say that Johnson was unable to challenge Trump on his actions.
“The United States’ actions have undoubtedly escalated the risk of a dangerous conflict in an already destabilised region, putting civilians and UK troops and nationals at risk, and leaving the Iran nuclear deal in danger of being dead in the water,” the Labour leader said.
“This government’s response is not putting the interests of this country first, but instead seems more interested in prioritising the prime minister’s relationship with President Trump over the security of the region and of this country.“This government’s response is not putting the interests of this country first, but instead seems more interested in prioritising the prime minister’s relationship with President Trump over the security of the region and of this country.
“Isn’t the truth that this prime minister is unable to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to a trade deal with the United States?”“Isn’t the truth that this prime minister is unable to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to a trade deal with the United States?”
Johnson responded by calling this “absolute fiction”. He added: “But what I will say is that the UK will continue to work for de-escalation in the region.”Johnson responded by calling this “absolute fiction”. He added: “But what I will say is that the UK will continue to work for de-escalation in the region.”