After the death of Qasem Soleimani on the 3rd of January - only three days ago - tensions have risen between the USA and Iraq - with the UK caught in the mix.

The parliament in Iraq has voted in favour of a resolution calling for an end to foreign military presence in the country. Alongside this, the parliament said that foreign forces should also be banned from using the land, airspace or water in Iraq for any reason. They are calling on the country’s government to end the agreement by which the US could send forces to Iraq, which was made more than four years ago to fight against the threat of ISIS. This flushing out of external troops comes after Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad Airport, clearly showing the distrust and unease between the US and Iraq.

These actions are a part of the anger and ‘revenge’ that the Iraq parliament are planning against the US, but has a more harmful effect on Iraq than positive feedback. They would lose over 5,200 US troops in their country, along with many other forces, including the UK’s troops - possibly resulting in the terrorist organisation regrowing. Britain has urged Iraq to allow British troops residing in Iraq to remain there, but the close relationship between the UK and the US will most likely cause the Iraq parliament to reject this and put the UK soldiers in the line of fire. In response, SAS troops are being sent to the Middle East to rescue British soldiers if needed, and the threat level has risen for troops stationed in Iraq - possibly meaning that the Uk will have to become involved in the affairs between the US and Iraq. However, an Iranian Embassy official  for the UK told the BBC that they didn't plan to attack any British people, adding "we are not idiots" - making the role of the UK unsure in this conflict between countries.