A man distributes a poster of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 3, 2020. An attack near Baghdad International Airport on Friday has killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhamdis, the deputy top leader of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

The U.S. airstrike is widely seen as a major escalation in the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran since the U.S. 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and imposition of sanctions against Iran.

OTTAWA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Friday called on all sides to exercise restraint and pursue de-escalation after a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani was commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force.

"Canada is in contact with our international partners. The safety and well-being of Canadians in Iraq and the region, including our troops and diplomats, is our paramount concern. We call on all sides to exercise restraint and pursue de-escalation. Our goal is and remains a united and stable Iraq," Champagne said in a statement.

Canada is currently commanding a NATO mission in Iraq, which is a "non-combat, advisory and training" mission, according to CTV.

"Canada has long been concerned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Qods Force, led by Qasem Soleimani, whose aggressive actions have had a destabilizing effect in the region and beyond," Champagne said in the statement.

The U.S. airstrike is widely seen as a major escalation in the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran since the U.S. 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and imposition of sanctions against Iran.

The United States has urged American citizens in Iraq to leave "immediately," following the airstrike.

Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" against the United States for what Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called a "heinous crime" after Soleimani was killed. ■