What have you done, Donald Trump?

Washington General Qasem Soleimani the powerful commander of Irans Revolutionary Guards was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq to protect American personnel abroad the Pentagon announced on Friday dramatically escalating hostilities between the archrivals and spiking tensions in the already volatile Persian Gulf regionGen Soleimani the head of Irans elite alQuds Force and architect of its regional security apparatus was killed when a drone fired missiles into a convoy that was leaving the Baghdad International Airport early on Friday The strike also killed the deputy chief of Iraqs powerful Hashed alShaabi paramilitary force and some local Iranbacked militiasIranians tear up a US flag during a demonstration in Tehran PicAFPGen Soleimani 62 was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind Ayatollah Khamenei His Quds Force an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards reported directly to the ayatollah and he was hailed as a heroic national figureThe Pentagon confirmed the death of Soleimani in the air strike saying the military action was carried out at the direction of President Donald Trump Trump now on vacation in Florida did not comment immediately except for tweeting an image of the US flagWomen weep while mourning in Tehran during a demonstration PicAPThe Pentagon alleged that the strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more it saidGeneral Soleimani also approved the attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad that took place this week it said The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world it saidUN chief worriedUN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday cautioned that the world cannot afford another war in the Gulf following the killing Deputy Spokesman for the SecretaryGeneral Farhan Haq said The SecretaryGeneral has consistently advocated for deescalation in the Gulf He is deeply concerned with the recent escalationAyatollah Ali KhameneiSevere revenge awaits the criminalsIn Tehran Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said severe revenge awaits the criminals behind the attack Khamenei on Friday appointed Deputy Commander of the Quds Force Esmail Ghaani as the head of the unit after Soleimani was killed Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran to protest against American crimes an AFP correspondent reported after Soleimani was killedChanting Death to America and holding posters of the slain commander demonstrators filled streets in central Tehran after Friday prayers Women and men many of them elderly took part The axis of any evil is America the motto of religion and the Koran is death to America they said in unison O leader of our revolution condolences condolences State news agency IRNA said there were similar demonstrations in Arak Bojnourd Hamedan Hormozgan Sanandaj Semnan Shiraz and YazdAmericans to leaveThe State Department on Friday told US citizens to leave Iraq immediately after the strike We urge US citizens to depart Iraq immediately the State Department tweeted Due to Iranianbacked militia attacks at the US Embassy compound all consular operations are suspended US citizens should not approach the Embassy The US embassy in Baghdad urged Americans to depart immediatelyOil prices jumpThe price of oil surged Friday as investors were gripped with uncertainty over potential repercussions Soleimanis killing prompted expectations of Iranian retaliation against US and Israeli targets In previous flareups Iran has threatened to cut the supply of oil from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world The international benchmark for crude oil jumped 41 per cent or 270 to 6895 a barrel in London tradingWaking up in a more dangerous worldGlobal powers on Friday urged restraint although Britain and Germany also suggested that Iran shared blame for provoking the targeted killing that dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the Mideast China Russia and France all permanent members of the UN Security Council took a dim view of the US assassination Military escalation is always dangerous Frances deputy minister for foreign affairs Amelie de Montchalin said Russia characterised the strike as fraught with serious consequences German spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer described the strike as a reaction to a series of military provocationsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday 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