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An American flag was placed in Badgad on January 3, 2020 so that cars could roll over it after the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. AFP Photos / Ahmad Al-Rubaye

France, like China, calls for calm and " stability ", while Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed by the United States in Badgad in a strike that killed at least eight people.

France pleaded Friday for " stability " in the Middle East, after the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani , killed by the United States in Baghdad, estimating by the way of Amélie de Montchalin, secretary of state for European Affairs , that " military escalation [was] still dangerous ". " When such operations take place, we can clearly see that the escalation is underway when we want stability and de-escalation above all, " she added.

" Aggression against Iraq "

The Iraqi Prime Minister resigned Adel Abdel Mahdi estimated this Friday January 3 that the American raid which killed the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and his lieutenant in Iraq Abou Mehdi al-Mouhandis would " start a devastating war in Iraq ".

" The assassination of an Iraqi military commander in an official post is an assault on Iraq, its state, its government and its people, " said Abdel Mahdi in a statement, while Abu Mehdi al-Mouhandis is the number two of Hachd al-Chaabi, a coalition of pro-Iran paramilitaries integrated into the state.

► To read also: Iraq : the Hachd al-Chaabi militia, link of the Iranian chain in the region

"To settle accounts against Iraqi leaders or of a friendly country on Iraqi soil [...] constitutes a flagrant violation of the conditions authorizing the presence of the American troops ", continues the Iraqi head of state resigned in the press release.

We went very quickly to an uncontrollable escalation.

Robert Malley

President of the International Crisis Group and former Barack Obama adviser on the Middle East

01/03/2020 - by Grégory Lesca Play

Cowardly aggression for Syria

The Syrian government denounced Friday the " coward American aggression " which killed in Iran the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and an influential Iraqi commander, seeing there a " serious escalation " for the Middle East, reported the official agency Sana. Syria is certain that this “ coward American aggression [...] will only reinforce the determination to follow the model of these leaders of the resistance ”, underlines a source of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus quoted by Sana.

China also calls for calm

China has also expressed its " concern " and calls for " calm " after a raid in Iraq claimed by Washington which cost the life of the powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in particular. " We urge all concerned, especially in the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions, " a diplomacy spokesperson told reporters Chinese, Geng Shuang.

Strike to increase tensions for Moscow

Russia warned on Friday of the consequences of the targeted assassination in Baghdad of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, a " random " American strike that will result in "an increase in tensions in the region ".

" The assassination of Soleimani (...) is a risky step that will lead to increased tensions in the region, " said the Russian Foreign Ministry, quoted by the RIA Novosti and TASS agencies. “ Soleimani faithfully served the interests of Iran. We offer our sincere condolences to the Iranian people , ”he added.

( with AFP )