The news of the U.S. airstrike killing Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and other members accompanying him has unleashed a firestorm of analysis and commentary. Some of that commentary is well informed. Others, not so much.

Much of the details are yet to be known, such as how the United States carried out the attack, the level of coordination that took place (if any) with the Iraqi government, and the reaction to the attack by major U.S. allies and partners. But it will help in the coming hours and days to keep our wits about us.