World, Middle East

Regional reactions to US killing of Iran's Soleimani

Iraqi prime minister condemns killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, calling it 'breach of Iraq’s sovereignty'

Zehra Nur Düz, Aness Suheil Barghoti, Mahmoud Mohamed Barakat Ramadan İbrahim  | 04.01.2020 - Update : 04.01.2020
Regional reactions to US killing of Iran's Soleimani

BAGHDAD/ANKARA

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi blasted Friday the killing of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq at dawn.

The airstrike is a "breach of Iraq’s sovereignty," Abdul-Mahdi said in a written statement, and that this act may lead to a war in Iraq, the region and the world.

The airstrike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militant group, or Popular Mobilization Units.

Abdul-Mahdi stressed that Soleimani and al-Muhandis were symbols of the victory against the Daesh/ISIS terror group.

Conveying condolences to Iran for the killing of Soleimani, Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered on Friday Al-Mahdi army and Yawm Al-Mawoud Brigade to be ready for protecting Iraq.

Al-Sadr stressed that the U.S. attack will not end their struggle and determination.

Prominent Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani said the U.S. killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, “heroes of victory against Daesh”, violated Iraq’s sovereignty.

- Reactions from Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. has the right to defend itself. Cutting his trip to Greece short, he asserted that Israel stands with the U.S. with its struggle for peace, security and self-defense.

"Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of innocent Americans," Netanyahu said, and added: “[US] President [Donald] Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively."

Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett announced he will conduct an assessment of the situation over the assassination of Soleimani.

According to the Israeli media, the assessment meeting will be held with the participation of the chief of general staff and other defense officials.

Israeli Foreign and Defense Ministry meanwhile announced a high-security alert at the country's overseas delegations, fearing retaliation by the Iranians following the death of their military leader.

Israeli army for its part said in a statement that it decided to close Mt. Hermon in northern Israel in light of the assessment.

- Palestinian reactions

Palestinian resistance movements also published written statements over the airstrike.

The Hamas group mourned for the assassination of Soleimani.

"Hamas mourns for commander Soleimani and the Iraqi martyrs who were killed today by a U.S. airstrike," read the Hamas statement. The group expressed its condolences to the Iraqi people for those killed in the airstrike.

The statement also offered the Hamas' condolences to the Iranian people on the "assassination of General Soleimani who provided various support to the Palestinian resistance."

"We condemn such U.S. policy of insolence and the continued U.S. crimes which aim at creating chaos in the region for the benefit of the Zionist enemy," the group added.

The statement concluded holding the U.S. responsible for the repercussions of the assassination in the entire region.

Stressing that Soleimani supported the Palestinian resistance, Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said in a written statement that he was targeted by the U.S. and Zionists.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine also condemned the attack, calling it a “qualitative change in the U.S.’ war and attacks against the people of the region.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah vowed to follow Soleimani’s path.

“We’ll raise his flag in all battlefields," Nasrallah said in a statement, adding that taking revenge is a responsibility for the resistance front.

- Syrian reactions

Soleimani’s killing caused different reactions across Syria.

“The killing of terrorist Soleimani, who is responsible for the massacres and deportations of Syrians, represents the end of a war criminal who is responsible for violations against civilians in Syria,” the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces said in a statement.

However, the ruling Assad regime “strongly” condemned the killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, Syria's official news agency SANA cited an anonymous official as saying.

The attack will escalate the tension in the region, the official said, adding that the Syrian regime stands with Iraq and Iran.

- Reaction from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia said it followed the events in Iraq which it said came as a result of terror acts and called for staving off aggravation, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported citing an unnamed official source.

The source said: "The Kingdom, in light of the rapid developments, calls for self-restraint to prevent everything that might exacerbate the situation with its unbearable consequences."

- Lebanon

Lebanon condemned the assassination of Soleimani, considering it a "violation" of Iraq's sovereignty and a "serious escalation" against Iran.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry called for avoiding "repercussions of assassination and keeping Lebanon away from them.”

"Because it is seriously needed for security and political stability to secure its exit from the stifling economic and financial crisis."

- Egypt

Egypt, for its part, called for avoiding escalation and containing the situation.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Cairo "is following with great concern the accelerating developments of events in Iraq, which foreshadow an escalation of the situation which it is important to avoid."

- Iraq

Iraqi President Barham Salih, and the Supreme Shia religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, warned of repercussions that might result from Soleimani's killing, and called for restraint.

Salih said in a statement: "We condemn this aggression, which affected security of leaders belonging to the military establishment, and which undoubtedly will have security implications and repercussions in Iraq and the region ... if the wise men did not take initiative to contain the implications."

Al-Sistani said, in a statement read by his representative, Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalai, during his Friday sermon in Karbala that "events are accelerating and worsening crises, and the country is going through the most dangerous junctures."

- Afghanistan

Meanwhile, Afghanistan vowed not to let its soil to be used by any other country for any regional conflict.

Expressing concern over escalating tension in the region, President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement that Afghanistan is closely monitoring situation in the region and is determined to maintain good bilateral and multilateral ties with all countries of the world.

- Killing of top Iranian commander

The U.S. early Friday confirmed that Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

The attack came amid heightened tensions after thousands of Iran-backed protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday.

Earlier this morning, the U.S. Defense Department confirmed the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad under direct instructions from President Donald Trump.

Soleimani was the long-time commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, which has been designated as a terror group in the U.S. since 2007. The group is estimated to have 20,000 members.

The Pentagon accused Soleimani of planning to carry out attacks on the U.S. diplomats and service members in Iraq and the region, saying the slain leader was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and coalition service members.

*Aness Suheil Barghoti in Israel, Mohammad Majid in Palestine, Mahmut Geldi in Lebanon, Shadi Khan Saif in Afghanistan, Ahmed Asmar and Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara contributed to this report

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