
Qassim Soleimani, leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport.
Reuters reports that Soleimani was among those killed in an airstrike on their vehicles inside Baghdad International Airport, Jan. 3. Earlier in the morning, Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced that three katyusha rockets had targeted Baghdad Airport.
Iraqi state media reported that the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was also killed in the attack.
“The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani,” said Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesman for Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces umbrella grouping of Iran-backed militias.
U.S. officials also told Reuters that strikes had been carried out against two targets linked to Iran in Baghdad.
According to the Jerusalem Post, police and health sources said that at least five people were killed and nine wounded.