Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the US airstrike on Baghdad airport is an act of aggression on Iraq and a breach of its sovereignty that will lead to war in Iraq, the region, and the world.

The strike also violated the conditions of US military presence in Iraq and should be met with legislation that safeguards Iraq’s security and sovereignty, he added.

“The vicious attack on Baghdad international airport last night is an insolent breach of Iraqi sovereignty and international agreements. It led to the killing of several commanders who defeated Daesh terrorists,” Iraq’s top Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani’s office said in a statement.

“These events and more indicate the country is heading toward very difficult times. We call on all concerned parties to behave with self-restraints and act wisely,” he said.

Iraq’s Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi condemned the US airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iran’s most powerful general and a top Iraqi militia commander as a breach of sovereignty.

“Yesterday’s targeting of a military commander in Iraq’s armed forces near Baghdad international airport is a flagrant breach of sovereignty and violation of international agreements,” he said in a statement.

Syria will not forget Soleimani

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that he received the news “with great sorrow”.

Assad said that “the martyr Soleimani died while serving his country and the axis of resistance. The Syrian people will not forget Soleimani’s support for our side, defending Syria from terror.”

Bashar al-Jaafari, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, says the American raid that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad was “a blatant and flagrant act of assassination, aggression, and execution.”

Adventurist step

Russia said the United States assassination of the top Iranian commander was an “adventurist step” which will further increase tension in the Middle East.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the move “was an adventurist step that will increase tensions throughout the region.”

“Soleimani served the cause of protecting Iran’s national interests with devotion. We express our sincere condolences to the Iranian people,” said the ministry.

 World “more dangerous”

France also reacted to the assassination of the Iranian commander, saying his killing has made the world “more dangerous.”

France’s Europe Minister, Amelie de Montchalin, said on Friday, “We have woken up to a more dangerous world.”

“In such operations, when we can see an escalation is underway, but what we want above all is stability and de-escalation,” Montchalin added.

According to her, President Emmanuel Macron would soon consult with “players in the region.”

“All of France’s efforts… in all parts of the world aim to ensure that we are creating the conditions for peace or at least stability,” she added.

Avoid further escalating tensions

Meanwhile, China called on “the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions.”

“China has always opposed the use of force in international relations,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang.

The leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, urged Britain to “stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the United States.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called on all parties to de-escalate.

“Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests,” he said in an emailed statement.

The commander’s assassination affected world markets; the price of oil surged more than four percent and European stocks fell at the start of trading on Friday.

“All hinges now on how Iran responds,” said Jason Tuvey, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics in London.

“There is obviously a concern that this could call for confrontation in the region,” he added.

Lebanon’s reaction 

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry on Friday called for the country and wider region to be spared any repercussions from the US airstrike that killed the Iranian commander.

The ministry also condemned the killing, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation against Iran.

Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday the US airstrike in Baghdad will increase insecurity and instability in the region.

In a written statement, the ministry said that it was deeply concerned by the rising tensions between the United States and Iran and that turning Iraq into an area of conflict will harm peace and stability in the region.