Twitterati fear 'World War III coming' after Iran's Soleimani killed in US strike

The world on Friday woke up with alarm after top Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike in Iraq. The killing marked a dramatic escalation in the ongoing "shadow war" between the US and Iran.

The Soleimani's killingtriggered various reactions from across the world and while some Republicans lauded the move other world leaderswarned of danger and urged US and Iranfor restraint.

In pictures: Soleimani was featured in Time magazine's 100 most influential people

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Meanwhile, people on social media feared that World War III could be breaking out as they tweeted various memes and short videos.

Many people also made jokes about how Americans will be escaping the war and how Trump is starting a war to escape the ongoing impeachment row.

In order to stop his impeachment, @realDonaldTrump will start a war with Iran. #Iran #WWIII pic.twitter.com/C7c4Ujvdmy — LaimDoge (@laimdoge) January 3, 2020

Me watching the people who made memes about World War 3 run after they hear gun shot like noise outside#WWIII pic.twitter.com/vR3bxVU43s — 🙃 (@DontCheese) January 3, 2020

#WWIII
US Army: You can’t be drafted for World War 3 if you have a mental illness

Me: pic.twitter.com/CCw7ymjiZx — 🤡 (@kpopisautistic) January 3, 2020

Americans when they're about become a war prisoner. #WWIII #worldwar3 pic.twitter.com/VhyfokSfKb — Shan (@shanuddin889) January 3, 2020

The UK looking around and seeing USA and Iran in war 👀 #WWIII pic.twitter.com/UmPQqEisQX — james 🤧 (@jameson_cs) January 3, 2020

Head of the elite Quds Force, a foreign arm of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani on Friday was killed in US strikes in Baghdad airport.

Later in the day, a statement by the US State Department said that the killing was authorised by US President Donald Trump.Muhandis, an adviser to Soleimani, was also killed in the strike.

So far Trump has not reactedofficially on the killing but earlier in the Day he tweeted an image of theUS flag.

pic.twitter.com/VXeKiVzpTf — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned of "harsh revenge" waiting for the "criminals" who killed Soleimani.

His death, though bitter, would double the motivation of the resistance against the United States and Israel, he said.

For over two decades Soleimanihad been at the forefront of projecting the Islamic Republic's military influence across the Middle East.