3 Jan, 2020 12:26 /
Updated 1 hour ago
© WANA (West Asia News
Agency)/Nazanin Tabatabaee
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The US State Department is
calling on all US citizens to “depart Iraq immediately” in advice issued on
Friday, in the wake of the US killing of key Iranian commander Qassem
Soleimani.
“US citizens should depart
via airline while possible, and failing that, to other countries via land,” the State Department advised. “Due to
Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound [in Baghdad], all
public consular operations are suspended until further notice.”
The advisory comes in the
immediate aftermath of the US assassination of Soleimani, commander of Iran’s
elite Quds Force, along with senior leaders of the Iraqi Shia militia in an air
strike near Baghdad International Airport on Friday morning. The Pentagon
claims the strike was “aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.”
US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo said Washington is committed to “de-escalation” following
its “defensive action to eliminate Qassem Soleimani.” In a series of
similarly-worded tweets, Pompeo said he had spoken with Britain’s Foreign
Secretary Dominic Raab, China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi, and German Foreign
Minister Heiko Maas about the killing.
Spoke with @HeikoMaas about @realDonaldTrump's decision to take defensive action to eliminate Qassem Soleimani. Germany is also concerned over the Iranian regime’s continued military provocations. The U.S. remains committed to de-escalation.
Iranian officials have vowed
to exact a “vigorous revenge” on the US for the death of
Soleimani, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warning that “revenge
awaits the criminals who have stained their hands in his blood.”
The incident marks a serious
escalation between the US and Iran, following heightened tensions over the
siege of the US Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week. Protesters besieged the
Green Zone site after a US air raid on an Iraqi Shia militia, with Washington
blaming Iran for backing the assault on the embassy.
US killing of Iranian commander on Iraqi soil violates terms of US stationing troops in the country – Iraqi PM
/https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/content/dam/thestar/news/canada/2021/09/25/huawei-executive-meng-wanzhou-receives-warm-welcome-upon-return-to-china/_1_meng_wanzhou_2.jpg)
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