At least 11 people were killed by unidentified gunmen and eight others, including soldiers, were injured in an attack on an Iraqi military post in western Baghdad, police sources and medics said on Monday.

Assailants in four vehicles used grenades and automatic weapons to attack the post in the capital's southwestern district of al-Radhwaniya, sources said.

In a statement, the Iraqi military claimed that a "terrorist group" had attacked a government-backed Sunni militia post, killing four people and injuring three.

In search of the attackers, the army and police forces began an operation.