OREANDA-NEWS. The assassination of Iranian General Kassem Suleimani as a result of a US missile strike in Iraq will lead to increased tension in the entire Middle East. This was announced on Friday by the Russian media in the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We consider the killing of Suleymani as a result of an American missile strike in the vicinity of Baghdad as an adventurous step that will lead to increased tension throughout the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted. "Suleymani devotedly served the cause of protecting Iran’s national interests. We express our sincere condolences to the Iranian people".

Previously, the Pentagon confirmed that it struck a missile strike near Baghdad’s airport on Friday, which killed Kassem Suleimani, commander of the Al-Quds special forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Iranian Armed Forces). The press service of the US military also said that the operation was carried out by order of the President of the United States Donald trump.

The spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced a three-day nationwide mourning after the death of Suleymani. He also promised revenge on those behind the general’s murder.