Live Updates: MPs Urge to Adopt Law to Expel Foreign Troops From Iraq After US Kills Iranian General

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Friday in a telephone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed "the latest developments in Iraq and efforts being exerted to defuse tensions in the region", as well as ways to "to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East in this turbulent period", according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Bahrain's Gulf Air airline on Friday canceled all its flights to the Iraqi capital following the US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iran's elite Quds Force, near Baghdad International Airport.

"Flights to and from Baghdad and Najaf in the Republic of Iraq have suspended until further notice due to safety and security issues," Gulf Air wrote on Twitter.

Royal Jordanian Airlines has also suspended its flights from Jordan's capital of Amman to Baghdad due to the unstable situation in Baghdad and the airport. According to the company, its flights to other Iraqi cities will take place on schedule.

"It was an extremely dangerous, foolish escalation ... He was the most effective force fighting against Islamic State* and al Qaeda* terrorists", Zarif said during talks with the UN Secretary-General.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) and Al Qaeda are terrorist groups banned in Russia

"Lavrov stressed that deliberate actions of a UN member state to liquidate other UN member state's officials, not to mention on a third sovereign country's soil without its knowledge, is a gross violation of the principles of the international law and deserves condemnation", the ministry said in a statement, issued following a phone conversation between the two diplomats.

The Russian minister pointed out that this act by the US could lead to severe consequences for the peace and stability in the region.

"Moscow urges Washington to refrain from illegally using force in achieving its goals in the international arena, and solve all problems at the negotiating table [instead]", the ministry stated.

"The US identified its position on the current situation in the Middle East. Yang Jiechi said that China was very concerned about the current situation in the Middle East. China is pursuing a settlement through dialogue and opposes the use of military force in international affairs", China’s Foreign Ministry said.

4. At the direction of #Iran’s Supreme Leader,Soleimani was plotting a coup in #Iraq. He was corrupting/threatening politicians, exploiting Iraq’s resources & bringing a large military force loyal to him,in an effort to make Iraq a platform to attack the U.S. & our allies 2/2

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 3, 2020

"The minister stressed France’s concern over the growing tensions in the Middle East in recent months, which has sharply escalated in Iraq in the last few weeks", the ministry said in a statement.

"In the current circumstances, France is calling on all sides to show restraint, and urging Iran to avoid all actions that could further undermine regional stability or lead to a serious crisis in regard to the proliferation of nuclear weapons", the statement said.

"The United States should know that its criminal attack on Commander Soleimani is the biggest strategic mistake in West Asia. The US will not easily escape the consequences of this miscalculation", the Council said in a statement circulated by the country's foreign ministry.

According to the statement, Tehran will avenge the death of the high-ranking military commander "at the right time and in the right place". 

"The memory of the martyr Soleimani will remain immortal in the conscience of the Syrian people", Syrian President Bashar Assad stated.

"We received, with utmost sorrow, the news of the martyrdom of a constellation of resistance leaders, headed by Major-General Qassem Soleimani, the leader of al-Quds Failaq, who spent his life in the national work and serving his country and the axis of resistance and the right issues of peoples and in combating terrorism and its backers", Assad said as quoted by the Syrian Arab News Agency.

"We are confident that this crime will increase the determination of the axis of the resistance to continue confronting the US subversive policy in the region and all forces of injustice and aggression in the world", Assad stated.

"He is deeply concerned with the recent escalation. This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint. The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf", spokesman Farhan Haq of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

Wall Street’s top stocks barometer, the S&P500, was down 0.8 percent at 3,231 at 10:04 AM EST (15:04 GMT). The index, which measures the value of the 500 largest US corporations by market capitalization, settled at an all-time high of 3,257.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.9 percent to 9,010. The Nasdaq hit a record high of 9,093 in the previous session, rising its most in a day since September 5. The technology sector was the darling of Wall Street investors last year, lifting the Nasdaq by 36% for the index’s best performance in six years.

US stocks’ broad Dow Jones Industrial Average also slid by 0.9 percent to 28,615. The Dow hit an all-time high of 28,873 on Thursday, in its best one-day gain since December 6. The Dow rose 23 percent last year for its best performance since 2017.

"In light of regional events, there is potential for spontaneous demonstrations or unrest to take place in Bahrain over the coming days, and possibly beyond", the State Department said in an updated travel advisory. "While we have no information indicating a threat to American citizens, we encourage you to continually exercise the appropriate level of security awareness in regards to your personal security and in the face of any anti-US activity that may arise in Bahrain".

Brigadier Gen. Hossein Pourjafari, Col. Shahroud Mozafarinia, Maj. Hadi Taremi, and Captain Vahid Zamanian were killed, the IRIB broadcaster said, citing a statement from the Quds Force.

#US விமானப்படை தாக்குதலில் ஈரானின் ராணுவ ஜெனரல் கொல்லப்பட்டதை கண்டித்து சென்னை அமெரிக்க தூதரகத்தை முற்றுகையிட இஸ்லாமியர்கள் முயற்சி. நூற்றுக்கு மேற்பட்ட போலீசார்கள் மசூதி முன்பு குவிப்பு. @News18TamilNadu #Iran #WWIII #worldwar3 #Iraq #trump #India #Chennai #kasim pic.twitter.com/Cg9NAaLSJ8

— Mahalingam Ponnusamy (@mahajournalist) January 3, 2020

“We are deeply concerned about the escalation of US-Iranian tensions in the region. We strongly reiterate that turning Iraq into a zone of conflict will damage the peace and stability of both Iraq and our region", the ministry said in a statement.

"It is clear that the operation to eliminate Suleimani and his convoy will lead to further increase in distrust and instability in the region", the ministry stressed. 

"There was an imminent attack [against the US], the orchestrator, the primary motivator for the attack was Qasem Soleimani ...There would have been many Muslims killed as well, Iraqis and people in other countries as well. It was a strike that was aimed at both disrupting that plot, deterring further aggression, [and] we hope, setting the conditions for de-escalation as well", Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News TV channel.

Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

"We are in contact with our American partners, as well as with our European partners. There is, of course, the question of how much it is now possible to prevent further escalation", ministerial spokesman Christofer Burger said at a briefing.

In addition, German Deputy Government Spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer claimed that Soleimani’s killing was provoked by Tehran.

"US actions were a reaction to a number of military provocations, for which Iran is responsible. I want to recall the attack on tankers in the Persian Gulf and on Saudi refineries. We condemned the attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and the recent attack on the US Embassy. We are also extremely concerned about Iran’s regional activity", Demmer said.

Discussed with @DominicRaab the recent decision to take defensive action to eliminate Qassem Soleimani. Thankful that our allies recognize the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force. The U.S. remains committed to de-escalation.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020

"A precision drone strike hit two vehicles at Baghdad airport", a US defence official told AFP.

The official continued on by saying that part of the 750 forces from the US 82nd Airborne division dispatched to the region a few days ago had already arrived in Baghdad.

"They will head to the US embassy to relieve Marines who had arrived in recent days", the source said.

"We mourn the death of Soleimani and the other Iranian commanders killed in the US-carried out air raid. Hamas also offers condolences for our brotherly Iraqi people", a Hamas statement read.

Two major factions in the Iraqi parliament – Sairoon (Alliance Towards Reforms) and Fatah Alliance – have called for adopting a new law that would envisage the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.

British bases in the Middle East have increased their security and readiness after the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Sky News reported. The UK Ministry of Defence, however, hasn't commented on the report.

The order to step up security at diplomatic missions was given by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, according to the Jerusalem Post newspaper.

Iranians from different walks of life take to streets to mourn martyrdom of General Soleimani who was assassinated in #Iraq by the US military.#Iran #قاسم_سليماني#QasemSoleimani#GeneralSoleimani pic.twitter.com/uuhQzOyCgL

— Press TV (@PressTV) January 3, 2020

הרכב ההרוס אחרי חיסול סולימאני בבגדאד pic.twitter.com/UcgN7DqiMx

— roi kais • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) January 3, 2020

"Undoubtedly, the great Iranian nation and other freedom-loving countries in the region will avenge the United States for its terrible crime", the president stated.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has addressed the airstrikes that killed Iranian IRCG and Iraqi militia officers, noting that Congress must be informed about the situation and the possible need to boost the American military presence in the Middle East.

Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020

Soleimani was responsible for unthinkable violence and world is better off without him.

But Congress didn’t authorize and American people don’t want a war with Iran.

All steps must now be taken to protect our forces against the almost inevitable escalation and increased risk. https://t.co/Z4HTnScFg7

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 3, 2020

 "The brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani... will undoubtedly make the tree of resistance in the region and the world more prosperous", Zarif said in a statement.

The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.

The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 3, 2020

The US Armed Forces have been put on high alert after Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, had been killed by the US strikes in Baghdad, the Fox News broadcaster reported, citing its sources.

To the Iranian government: If you want to stay in the oil business leave America and our allies alone and stop being the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 3, 2020

The defensive actions the U.S. has taken against #Iran & its proxies are consistent with clear warnings they have received

They chose to ignore these warnings because they believed @POTUS was constrained from acting by our domestic political divisions

They badly miscalculated

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 3, 2020

#BREAKING: Pentagon statement on Iraqi airstrike:

“At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.” pic.twitter.com/ZFnBoSuzmr

— Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) January 3, 2020

pic.twitter.com/VXeKiVzpTf

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

The US Department of Defence said it was waiting for the results of DNA tests to confirm the deaths of Commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, as well as a senior member of the Iraqi Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), in what is described as a US drone attack in Baghdad, the Newsweek magazine reported. A senior Pentagon official asid that there was a "high probability" that they would confirm the deaths of Soleimani and PMF deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

During the morning trading hours in Asian markets, Brent crude soared 1.31 percent, to $67.12 per barrel, while US crude jumped 1.24 percent, to $61.94 per barrel, after reports emerged that a top Iranian military general had been killed in an airstrike in Baghdad.