UK at risk after Iran General Qasem Soleimani is killed by US airstrike, experts warn

Ian Bond, foreign policy director at the Centre for European Reform, said on Twitter the airstrike was a "big escalation" by Mr Trump. He added: "No doubt #Soleimani was very bad actor, with much blood on his hands.

"But killing non-state terrorists eg [al-Qaida founder Osama] bin Laden or [so-called Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-] Baghdadi very different from killing senior official of internationally-recognised state.

"Big escalation by Trump, and a lawless step that increases risk to US and allies."