BAGHDAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- An attack near Baghdad International Airport on Friday has killed senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhamdis, the deputy chief 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 to 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.
It is reported that the U.S. Department of Defense has announced that the U.S. forces had conducted a strike that killed Soleimani.
According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, the IRGC has issued a statement confirming the death of Soleimani, saying, "Honorable Commander of Islam Qasem Soleimani was martyred after U.S. airstrike today."
Soleimani has once said that the IRGC forces will be able to deal with any war with the United States.
Al-Muhandis is one of the Iran-backed paramilitary leaders in Iraq. He is the de facto commander of the Hashd Shaabi forces in Iraq and heads the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades.
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.
Local media aired photos showing al-Muhandis participating in the protest with Qais al-Khazali, head of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) militia, and top Hashd Shaabi leader Hadi Al Amri.
On Sunday evening, U.S. forces bombarded the headquarters of Hashd Shaabi's 45th and 46th Brigades, leaving 25 killed and 51 injured.
