The U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq this week has sparked sharp criticism from anti-war activists, including in New York City, where demonstrators rallied on Saturday.

Crowds chanting "No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East," took to Times Square to make their voices heard.

The protest came in direct response to Friday's airstrike in Baghdad. President Donald Trump says he ordered the strike to prevent conflict, saying, "Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him."

Iran has vowed "harsh retaliation" and the U.S. is deploying thousands more troops to the Middle East.

Organizers of Saturday's rally say there were similar demonstrations in roughly 72 U.S. cities. They argue that the U.S. should reorganize its priorities to focus on domestic issues instead of conflict overseas.