UK's Johnson faces heat for silence on Iran while on holiday

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to return Sunday to the UK, where he faces criticism for not cutting short his holiday to deal with soaring Mideast tensions.

Johnson, who celebrated the New Year on the Caribbean private island of Mustique after leading his Conservative Party to a strong majority in the December 12 election, has been silent over the US slaying Friday of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike.

Soleimani's death stoked fears that heightened world tensions could spiral into war after Iran threatened revenge against the US, which has sent 3,000 more soldiers to Kuwait.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has defended Johnson, saying the two have been in constant contact during this time.

The British government has upgraded its travel warning for the Middle East and dispatched two warships to escort UK-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipment corridor for world oil supplies.

Jeremy Corbyn, the outgoing leader of the opposition Labour party, said Johnson "should have immediately cut short his holiday to deal with an issue that could have grave consequences for the UK and the world."
In fact, I've been in constant contact with the PM over the Christmas break on a whole range of foreign policy issues."