An attack near Baghdad International Airport on Friday has killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhamdis, the deputy top leader of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.
A security source and lawmaker anonymously told Xinhua that "eight people, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were killed in the attack on a military base near Baghdad International Airport."
Previous reports said three rockets targeting the airport struck two vehicles nearby, killing at least seven people, including five Iraqi militia members and "two guests" in the cars.
Two of the deaths were Iranian nationals, the source confirmed with Xinhua.
The Iraqi state TV additionally reported that Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, was among the killed.
Meanwhile, U.S. media citing a Pentagon source reported that al-Muhandis and Soleimani were killed in the strike, and DNA results are pending.
Soleimani has once said that the IRGC forces will be able to deal with any war with the United States,
After the attack, parliament lawmaker Mish'aan al-Jubouri, who has a close relationship with al-Muhamdis, said in a tweet that "I mourn the brother, the rebellious, the dear and loyal friend who I have always watched him defying the death."
The attack came after supporters of the Hashd Shaabi militias stormed on Tuesday the perimeter of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
On Sunday evening, U.S. forces bombarded the headquarters of Hashd Shaabi's 45th and 46th Brigades, leaving 25 killed and 51 injured.
