An extended period of geopolitical calm was shattered late Thursday when the U.S. conducted a military air strike in Baghdad, Iraq that killed a top Iranian general along with an Iraqi paramilitary leader. The U.S. said Iran was planning to kill Americans in the Middle East. The strike also comes after the major attack on a Sauid oil installation a few months ago, in which the U.S. blamed Iran. Iran promised harsh retaliation. Nymex crude oil prices spiked, hitting a 10-month high. The keen uncertainty regarding this situation, including how Iran will respond, is likely to keep crude oil traders and the global marketplace on edge for some time to come. 