India Reacts to General Qassem Soleimani's Assassination, Appeals to US, Iran to 'Exercise Restraint'

New Delhi, January 3: In its first reaction to the assassination of a top Iranian military leader by the United states, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is imperative upon both sides to exercise restraint. The official Indian reaction came hours after General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, was killed in a "pre-emptive" US raid near Baghdad airport in the wee hours of Friday. Donald Trump Sends Veiled Truce Offer to Iran After Qassem Soleimani's Killing: '...Never Won a War, But Never Lost a Negotiation'.

New Delhi, in its statement, said it has taken cognisance of the assassination of General Soleimani. The incident has alarmingly escalated geopolitical tensions, the MEA added, further noting that the entire region would be destabilised in case of a full-blown military confrontation.

"We've noted that a senior Iranian leader has been killed by US. Increase in tension has alarmed the world. Peace and security in this region is of utmost importance to India. It's vital that situation doesn't escalate. India has consistently advocated restraint and continues to do so," the statement issued by MEA said.

Soleimani, along with Shia militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who heads the Ketib Hezbollah group in Iraq, was also killed in the US drone strike. Their assassination sparked off protests across Iran, with thousands marching on the streets raising "Death to America" slogans.

Russia, a long-standing ally of Iran, condemned the US drone strike, calling it a blatant act of provocation. The United Nation's Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings also condemned the assassination of Soleimani, saying that it could spark off another spiral of violence in the Middle East.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 03, 2020 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).