Egypt calls for preventing escalation after killing of IRGC leader

CAIRO – 3 January 2020: Egypt called for preventing the risks of escalation in the region after the killing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leader Qasem Soleimani on Friday in Iraq by US airstrikes.

“In deep concern, Egypt is following up the accelerating developments in Iraq which give warning signs of escalation that should be prevented,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

“Containing the situation requires putting an immediate end to all types of regional interference in the Arab States’ affairs and nations as it [interference] serves to stoke the division and tension among their peoples who are eager for peace and stability,” the statement read.

Soleimani was killed by US airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump in Baghdad on Friday. In a statement on his killing, the US pentagon said “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.”

US President Trump said on his Twitter account that Soleimani should have been killed several years ago for his involvement of killing thousands of Americans.

General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more...but got caught! He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number....

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

....of PROTESTERS killed in Iran itself. While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country. They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe. He should have been taken out many years ago!

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

Iran and its allies in the region including Lebanese political party Hezbollah and Iraqi leader Muqtada al-Sadr announced that they will avenge Soleimani’s murder.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced a three-day mourning for Soleimani, saying that “the struggle will continue until achieving the victory and making the life of criminals more bitter.” He named Soleimani’s deputy Esmail Ghaani as the IRGC’s new leader.

Coincidently, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss Charge d'affaires to Iran, which represents the US interests in Iraq, in protest against the killing of Soleimani, IRNA news agency reported.

The US embassy in Baghdad urged American citizens in Iraq on Friday to "depart immediately,” several hours after the US killing of Soleimani in Iraq. Also, the Netherlands urges Dutch citizens to leave Baghdad Deutsche Welle (DW) quoted the Dutch Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement.