WAHALA WAN BURST............World War 3" trends globally after President Trump ordered an air strike that killed commander of Iran's Quds Force

FEARS of a looming World War 3 are growing after the US killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran's spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an air strike on Baghdad airport ordered by Donald Trump

 

Top Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an adviser to Gen Soleimani, was also killed in the attack that was authorised by US President Donald Trump.
Their convoy was destroyed in a pinpoint attack by US forces as it drove towards the airport.
Get Soleimani's killing marks a dramatic escalation in the regional "shadow war" between Iran and the United States and its allies, principally Israel and Saudi Arabia, which could quickly ratchet up tit-for-tat attacks.

The attack is expected to draw severe Iranian retaliation against Israel and American interests after its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed harsh revenge.
9.20am update: Oil prices soar in wake of Baghdad airstrike
Oil prices rose over $2 a barrel and gold and other safe-haven assets also jumped as the
US killing of a top Iranian commander in an air strike in Iraq ratcheted up tensions between the two powers.
8.22am update: US citizens ordered to leave Iraq
US citizens have been ordered to leave Iraq "immediately" after US President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
US Embassy officials have urged citizens to get out of Iraq after the strike which is fears to spark a new war in the Middle East.
Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have been deployed to stand guard at the embassy - which just days ago stormed by a mob of anti-US protesters which have been linked to militias backed by Iran.
And a slogan in Arabic reading "Death to America" has been spotted painted on a road in Baghdad.
US citizens have been urged to leave via flight if possible, but if it is not possible, to travel to other countries via land and go from there.

7.58am update: Iraqi Prime Minister condemns “assassinations”
Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi has coldemned the US “assassinations” of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani and militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Mr Mahdi said the airstrike on Baghdad airport was an act of aggression on Iraq and breach of its sovereignty that will lead to war in Iraq, the region, and the world.
He said the attack also violated the conditions of US military presence in Iraq and should be met with legislation that safeguards Iraq's security and sovereignty.
7.53am update: China urges US restraint after killing of Iranian commander
China’s foreign ministry has urged US leaders to remain calm amid growing fears of the outbreak of World War 3.
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China consistently opposes the use of force in international relations.
He said Beijing was urging the relevant sides, especially the US, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions and said peace and stability in the Middle East must be upheld.
7.38am update: Syria condemns killing of Iranian military chief
Syria has strongly condemned the "treacherous, criminal American aggression" that led to the killing of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani.
State news agency SANA cited a foreign ministry source as saying the attack constituted a "serious escalation" and reaffirmed US responsibility for instability in Iraq.

Burning debris on a road near Baghdad International Airport after US airstrikes (Image: REUTERS)

7.31am update: Israel braced for retaliation from Iran-backed militia
Israel's defence minister has summoned the country's military and security chiefs to Tel Aviv
in the wake of the US air strike that killed senior Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Israeli officials have give no immediate public response to the deaths of Soleimani and of Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad.
But Israel Army Radio said the military had gone on heightened alert, amid fears that Iran could strike through its regional allies such as Tehran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah to the north, or through Palestinian militant group Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Ron Ben-Yishai, a commentator for Israeli news outlet Ynet, said: "They will wait for the right moment to exact revenge, perhaps by firing into Israeli territory through Shiite militias
in Syria and perhaps even from Gaza.”
7.26am update: Iranian general ‘was planning attacks’
US defence chiefs have issued a statement confirming the strike against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, was carried out at the direction of Donald Trump.
The Defence Department said Gen Soleimani "was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region".
7.12am update: Biden condemns Trump decision to launch attack
US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Donald Trump had "tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox" with the targeted killing of Iran's top general in an air strike in Baghdad.
The former vice president joined other Democratic White House hopefuls in criticising Mr Trump's order, saying it could leave the US "on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East".

7.05am update: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei brands US ‘devils and villainous’
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has paid tribute to Iranian general Qassem Suleimani who was killed in the Baghdad drone strike ordered by Donald Trump.
The Ayatollah tweeted: “Dear Iranian Nation! Years of sincere, brave efforts fighting against the devils and villainous in the world and yrs of wishing for martyrdom on the path of God finally took the dear Commander of Islam, Soleimani, to this lofty status.
“His blood was shed by the most barbaric of men.”
6.47am update: Russian MP says Iran's retaliation will be in the "near" future
Konstantin Kosachevnd, chair of Russia's Foreign Affairs Committee: Iran response will be in the near future

6.35am update: Iranian president calls asassination "cowardly"
Iranian President Rouhani says "the assassination of Qassem Soleimani is a cowardly act and confirms the weakness of the United States in the region
6.33am update: Iranian President vows revenge 
Iranian President Rouhani says Iran and "free nations of region" will avenge the killing of Soleimani

Iran news: Qasem Soleimani (Image: GETTY)

6.29am update: Asian stockmarkets fall
Asian shares stumble  after U.S. air strikes in Iraq
6.27am update: Brent oil prices rise after US attack
Brent jumps nearly $3 after U.S. air strike kills Iranian general
6.24am update: Russia issues its first reponse to assassination of Soleimani
Russia says the "assassination of Soleimani" will lead to clashes between Iran's allies and Americans in Iraq
6.22am update: Iran's supreme leader issues warning to Trump
Iran's Khamenei says anti-U.S. resistance to increase after Soleimani death
6.20am update: Number of deaths rises 
Death toll in U.S. airstrikes in Baghdad has risen to 12
6.10am update: Airport reopens 
Baghdad airport reopens for air traffic after killon of Qasem Soleimani
6.08am update: Bernie Sanders describes killing of Soleimani as an "assassination"
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders appears to be the first Democratic candidate to refer to Soleimani's death as an "assassination."
6.05am update: Israel to hold security meeting
Israel to hold an emergency security meeting to assess situation following death of Iran's Soleimani

World War 3 panic: Fears of major conflict escalate (Image: GETTY)

5.59am update: Iran's Defence Minister warns of "crushing response"
Iran's Defence Minister said the assassination of Qasem Soleimani will receive a "crushing response"
5.53am update: Iranian Foreign Secretary says assassination will boost resistance in region
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said  the assassination of Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani would strengthen resistance against the United States and Israel in the region and the world.

5.49am update: Iranian supreme leader warns of "harsh retaliation"

Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei has warned Trump of "harsh retaliation is waiting."

5.47am update: Dollar falls as fears grow of conflict

Dollar slips to nine-week low on safe-haven yen as Mideast tensions flare 
5.45am update: Iranian Revoluntionary Guards retaliation threat
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have also threatened violent retaliation against the United States in response to Soleimani's death.
5.32am update: Iran declares three days of mourning
The country has confirmed it will going into three days of mourning.
Reports suggest Iran will begin this today following the deaths at Baghdad Airport.
5.29am update: Rockets fired at vehicles carrying 'high-profile guests'
Sources from the PMF told Al Jazeera that the US rockets which were fired had destroyed two vehicles carrying "high-profile guests",
They had arrived at the airpot, escorted by a PMF official.
The rockets landed near the air cargo terminal.
They burned two vehicles, killing a total of seven people.
5.23am update: Trump's previous warning to Iran
Yesterday, Trump ordered the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division’s alert brigade to deploy to Kuwait with immediate effect, following an attack on the American embassy by supporters of an Iranian backed militia.
He warned Iran that it “will pay a very big price” for any damage or loss of life to US citizens in the embassy.
Trump said: “This is not a warning, it is a threat.”
On Tuesday the US Defence Secretary, Mark Esper, confirmed that 750 paratroopers were already on their way to the Middle East.

Middle East news (Image: EXPRESS)

5.20am update: 'We're on the brink of major conflict across the Middle East'
Mr Biden continued: “President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, bother here and abroad, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.
“I’m not privy to the intelligence and much remains unknown, but Iran will surely respond.
“We could be on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East.”
5.16am update: 'No American will mourn Soleimani's passing' - Biden
Influential figures from across the US have been responding to the attack which took place earlier this morning.
Democrat, and US President hopeful, Joe Biden took to Twitter to post his views.
He said: “No American will mourn Qassem Soleimani’s passing.
“He deserved to be brought to justice for his crime against American troops and thousands of innocents throughout the region.
“He supported terror and sowed chaos.
“None of that negates the fact that this is a huge escalatory move in an already dangerous region.”
5.11am update: Trump shares chilling image after brutal attack
Trump has provoked Iran on social media following a US air-strike which killed General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force.
The General was killed in Iraq as part of an operation the Pentagon have said was at “the direction of the president.”
Reports suggest a strike on Baghdad’s international airport took place, a number of people being killed.
The fear now is Iran could made a deadly reprisal.
Read more here.
5.06am update: 'It's rouge adventurism!'
A statement from the US Department of Defence said: “Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called the killing an act of US terrorism and said that the “US bears responsibility for all the consequences of its rogue adventurism.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have also threatened violent retaliation against the United States in response to Soleimani's death.
5am update: Iran responds
Iran’s foreign secretary Mohammad Javad Zarif said: “The US' act of international terrorism, targeting and assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation.
“The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.”
4.58am update: What we know so far...
Major-General Qassem Soleimani, widely seen as the second most powerful man in Iran, was killed following a US missile attack at Baghdad’s international airport.
Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesman for Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) umbrella grouping of Iran-backed militias, also confirmed the deaths of Soleimani and Muhandis.
He said: “The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani,"
Sources from the PMF told Al Jazeera that the US rockets destroyed two vehicles carrying "high-profile guests", who had arrived at the airport and were being escorted by a PMF official.
The rockets landed near the air cargo terminal, burning two vehicles and killing a total of seven people.