Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has ripped into the US after the airstrike which killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general last night.
“The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict with global significance,” Corbyn tweeted, “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.”
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.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 3, 2020
However, Corbyn failed to acknowledge the chaos, death and destruction caused by Soleimani, who was head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and was behind attacks on Israel and the United States. Instead, not for the first time, Corbyn took aim at our ally, the United States, instead of the destabilising actions and threats of the Iranian regime.
Meanwhile, Labour’s deputy leader Emily Thornberry launched a scathing attack: “For two years, I’ve warned about Trump’s reckless lurch towards war with Iran. Last night’s attack takes us even closer to the brink. Those of us who marched against the Iraq War must be ready to march again, and ensure we are not dragged into this morass”
For two years, I’ve warned about Trump’s reckless lurch towards war with Iran. Last night’s attack takes us even closer to the brink. Those of us who marched against the Iraq War must be ready to march again, and ensure we are not dragged into this morass: https://t.co/94mbTIdPYP
— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) January 3, 2020
The US Department of Defense confirmed the killing, stating: “General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.”
Responding to Corbyn’s tweet, Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of the British Armed Forces, slammed the Labour leader’s comment:
“You were paid by the same terrorist regime as paid Soleimani,” Kemp said, “The UK government needs to publicly support this US action and ensure it is ready to give maximum military & diplomatic support to the US as the situation unfolds.”
Meanwhile, Israeli journalist Arsen Ostrovsky cynically replied to Corbyn, “Have you ever met a terrorist you haven’t liked, or whose death you have not mourned?”
Soleimani was Iran’s point man on using terrorist organisations, including Hezbollah and Hamas, to sow chaos, death and destruction in the Middle East and beyond. Also killed was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of Kata’ib Hezbollah. Muhandis was a leading figure in the recent riots attacking the US Embassy in Baghdad.