Early on Friday, an air strike by the US killed Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force, and others at Baghdad airport. Those killed in the attack included deputy head of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and Mohammad Reza Al-Jabri, the group’s director of public relations.

The Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces, PMF) accused Iraqi parties of providing the US with information on General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The official media channel of Hashd al-Shaabi said that Quds Commander had just arrived at the Baghdad International Airport, at 23:00 on January 2, when Muhandis and other PMF members were welcoming him. As they rode together, rockets struck their vehicles, killing at least five people including Soleimani and Muhandis.

“Haj Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were riding in one vehicle when it was struck by two successive guided missiles launched from an American helicopter while they were on their way from the arrivals hall on the road that leads out of Baghdad Airport,” Reuters quoted as saying a local militia commander, Abu Muntathar al-Hussaini.

He said the second vehicle was carrying bodyguards from the PMF and was hit by one rocket.

“The American criminals had detailed information on the convoy’s movements.”

SADR: WE ARE READY

Shiite leaders have published statements and expressed their reactions at the killing of the top Iranian commander.

The first reaction came from the influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who offered condolences to the Iranian government and said the killing of Soleimani was targeting Iraq's opposition and Jihad, adding that it will not weaken its resolve.

“As the patron of the patriotic Iraqi resistance I give the order for all mujahideen, especially the Mahdi Army, Promised Day Brigade, and all patriotic and disciplined groups to be ready to protect Iraq,” he said in a statement.

AMIRI CALLS FOR UNITY

Iraqi militia commander Hadi al-Amiri called on all Iraqi factions to unite and expel foreign troops, hours after the US killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis in an air strike.

"We call on all national forces to unify their stance in order to expel foreign troops whose presence has become pointless in Iraq," state TV quoted Amiri, who leads the powerful Iran-backed Badr Organization militia and fought on Iran's side in its 1980-1988 war with Iraq.

AL-GHAZALI: ALL FIGHTERS SHOULD BE ON HIGH ALERT

Qais al-Khazali, commander of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, has vowed a 'complete end' to the US military presence in Iraq.

"All fighters should be on high alert for upcoming battle and great victory," said Khazali, chief of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) militia.

"The price for the blood for the martyred commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is the complete end to American military presence in Iraq," the militia leader said.

Khazali's Asaib Ahl al-Haq is one of the founding militias part of Muhandis' Popular Mobilisation Forces.