As politicians and pundits in the United States debated the merits of President Trump's order to take out Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force leader, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, citizens of countries across the Middle East celebrated the swift killing of Iran's top military mind.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared a video of Iraqi citizens celebrating in the street after hearing the news of Soleimani's death.

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One artist painted a mural of Soleimani in a trash heap with Trump's likeness next to the Iranian general's dead body.



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Soleimani, widely regarded as the mastermind behind Iran's terrorist military operations over the last two decades, was killed late Thursday evening during a drone strike outside the airport in Baghdad by U.S. forces.

U.S. military officials said the missile strike was in response to an "imminent threat" Soleimani and the Guard posed to American lives in the region.

"General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more ... but got caught!" Trump tweeted Friday morning. "He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number.... of PROTESTERS killed in Iran itself. While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country," the president continued. "They are not nearly as saddened as the leaders will let the outside world believe. He should have been taken out many years ago!"





Hours after the strike, video circulated online showing people celebrating in Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, Iran.





In northern Syria, where the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had exerted influence and aided terrorist activities, large crowds gathered and cheered: "Gone, gone, gone Soleimani ... you are next Bashar Irani."





Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, has vowed vengeance against the U.S. for Soleimani's killing.

"With his departure and with God's power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night's incident," Khamenei said.

The State Department and the Pentagon have ordered all U.S. citizens in Baghdad to leave the country immediately.

