British PM Who Is In Line With The US About The Death Of Qasem Soleimani

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson did not regret the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. He considered Soleimani a threat to everyone.

Boris Johnson spoke with President of the United States (US) Donald Trump, on Sunday January 5, 2020, two days after the US drone attack on Soleimani.

"General Qasem Soleimani is a threat to all our interests and is responsible for the disruptive and unstable behavior in the region (Iran-Iraq)," said PM Johnson, quoted by The Guardian, Monday, January 6, 2020.

Johnson will soon speak with Iraq in the name of peace and for the sake of maintaining stability. Johnson proposed this after the Iraqi Parliament called for the expulsion of foreign troops in the country, including British soldiers fighting ISIS.

"Given the major role he (Qasem Soleimani) played in an act that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Western civilians and army personnel, we will not regret his death. But it is clear that all calls for revenge will only lead to more violence in the region and it doesn't concern anyone, "added Johnson.

Before the British PM expressed his opinion, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said Britain was on the same 'page' as the US regarding Soleimani's death.

Foreign Minister Raab also said Soleimani was a regional threat and understood the position of US troops to attack Soleimani. Raab then added that the US has the right to defend itself.

"They (the US) have explained why it (the attack on Soleimani) was carried out and we sympathize with the situation in which they are in," Raab said.

Raab also defended PM Johnson's decision not to stop his vacation time in Mustique when news of Soleimani's death emerged. He stated that Johnson was responsible for his portion.

But Raab's stance was criticized by Labor Party member who is also the British shadow cabinet foreign minister, Emily Thornberry. Thornberry said the US decision to kill Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad risks sparking war in the Middle East and the British government must insist that it will play no role in such a conflict.

"I do not shed tears over Soleimani's death; I fully understand his pattern of behavior. He is basically in charge of the defense forces for Iran. Their behavior is making the whole region unstable. He has a lot of blood on his hands. However, to kill him, at this stage "When there is an escalating tension, it doesn't seem to me to make the world any safer. In fact, we are moving towards war," Thornberry said.