JEREMY Corbyn has condemned the US for the Iran airstrike and accused Donald Trump of being “beligerent”.
The Labour boss said the killing of general Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport was “extremely serious”.
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CORB BLAST
Mr Corbyn tweeted: “The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict with global significance.
“The UK government should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.”
Mr Corbyn’s blast comes after Labour MPs accused the U.S President of being “reckless”.
The UK government should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.
Jeremy Corbyn
While No10 confirmed Boris Johnson was given no forewarning about the strike – despite significant UK interests and 1,400 military personnel in Iraq and Syria.
The US President personally approved the attack that took out Soleimani, the second most powerful person in Iran and leader of the nation’s military operations in the Middle East.
Mr Trump’s only personal response so far was a tweet of a US flag without comment.
ROCKET STRIKE
Two missiles fired from a MQ9 Reaper drone struck Gen Soleimani shortly after he disembarked from an aircraft at Baghdad airport.
Iraqi militia chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack.
The Pentagon claimed Gen Soleimani was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region”.
It came days after protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, clashing with US forces at the scene.
Amir Hatami, Iran’s defence minister, has threatened the US with “crushing revenge” for Gen Soleimani’s “unjust assassination”.
‘RECKLESS’ TRUMP
Jess Philips MP, a favourite to replace Mr Corbyn as Labour leader, has accused the president of “playing a game”.
She said: “Reckless foreign policy does not show strength. It’s not a game.
“The consequences of the escalating tensions between the US and Iran are not to be underestimated, not just once again on the civilians in the region but on the whole world.”
Mr Corbyn has previously faced criticism for his relations with Iran after he appeared on the nation’s state TV for fees of up to £20,000.
He was slammed in June last year as “pathetic” by then Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt after calling on the government to provide “credible evidence” that Tehran was behind attacks on British oil tankers.
The Labour boss had claimed: “Britain should act to ease tensions in the Gulf. Without credible evidence about the attacks, the Government’s rhetoric will only increase the threat of war.”
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