LONDON/CANBERRA, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain has reduced staff at its embassies in Tehran and Baghdad to a minimum level due to escalating tensions following the US killing of a top Iranian military leader.
The withdrawal of the diplomats is a precautionary step rather than based on specific intelligence of a threat while ambassadors Rob Macaire in Tehran and Stephen Hickey in Baghdad will remain in place, according to the report, citing diplomatic sources.
On Friday, the United States killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force, in an airstrike near Baghdad International Airport.
The death of Soleimani has sparked outrage and revenge threats from Tehran, raising fear of an uncontrollable escalation in the region.
Meanwhile, Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said in CANBERRA that the government is “strongly concerned” about the rising tensions in the Middle East.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) on Tuesday suspended all training operations in Iraq after the country’s government voted to expel American troops and its allies from the region.
Reynolds told Nine Entertainment newspapers that Australian troops are likely to remain in Iraq to continue the fight against Daesh.
“Australia’s focus remains on supporting Iraq’s stability and unity and ensuring a de-escalation of tensions,” Reynolds said.
“The safety and security of Australians in Iraq and across the region, including our embassy staff and ADF personnel, remains our top priority.”
More than 300 Australian troops are based in Iraq, with another 2,000 deployed throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday told reporters that he was not told of the drone strike that killed Soleimani ahead of time.
“The United States took this action based on their own information and they took that action without discussing it with partners,” he said. — NNN-AGENCIES
