The Trump Administration’s decision Thursday night to attack the Baghdad International Airport, assassinating Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani, was done unilaterally, with signs that very few people were told beforehand; not Congress, not Britain, and certainly not Iraq.
Many weren’t happy about not being given advance notice, and many still aren’t happy now that it’s done, and are looking to distance themselves from the US attack, making clear they weren’t involved.
French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian said that was time for diplomacy, while Saudi Deputy DM Khalid bin Salman urged restraint. Even Israel, normally fan of all roads that lead to a war with Iran, seemed to want to step away from this one.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the assassination “isn’t an Israeli event but an American event We were not involved and should not be dragged into it.” That’s a stunning position for Israel to take, and may reflect Iran’s suggestion that a war with the US could put Israel in the cross-hairs.
US Allies Distance Themselves From US After Soleimani Attack
Even Israel doesn't want to be 'dragged into it'
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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