SL concerned about situation in ME, urges restraint

Sri Lanka yesterday expressed concern about growing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Iranian General recently. 

Gen. Qasem Soleimani was Iran’s most powerful military commander who led the Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Iran’s elite Quds Force.

Soleimani (62) was killed at Baghdad airport on Friday in a strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. His killing marks a serious escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday in press release said: “Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the growing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Iranian leader. They urged all parties to act with utmost restraint and maintain peace and security through constructive dialogue in order to de-escalate the threat to the stability of the region.