He pointed out that the US would meet similar resistance in other countries which it attacks.

“Defence and the sacrifices made for one's country is to be expected. But those who sacrifice their lives in aggressive wars die for nothing,” he added.

Apart from Vietnam, Mahathir said the US must also remember the war in Iraq, which was supposed to be over in three months.

“But it is still on today almost 18 years later.

“Saddam (Hussein) is dead but is Iraq much better than Saddam's time?

“I do not think autocracy is right. But if democracy is the answer, expecting it to perform miracles overnight is stupid,” he added.

As for Soleimani, Mahathir said the same people who had condemned the killing of Saudi Arabian dissident Jamal Khashoggi had assassinated the Iranian general.

“Is there any difference between the killing of Soleimani and that of Khashoggi?” he asked.

In a postscript, Mahathir also referred to the forest fires in Australia, which he described as an international catastrophe.

“The fire raging in Australia is not an Australian affair. It affects the whole world.

“It is an international catastrophe. The whole world should help Australia put out the fire. Unfortunately, this is not being done,” he added.