BAGHDAD: A US air strike has killed five Iraqi militants near the city of Kirkuk as they were preparing to launch an attack at US forces in the country, said Iraqi security sources on Sunday.
A US military official confirmed to western media that a self-defense strike was carried out on an imminent threat near Kirkuk.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group representing several Iraqi armed factions, in a statement said five of its members had been killed, vowing retaliation against US forces.
The US military officials said the US and international forces were targeted with multiple rockets at the Rumalyn Landing Zone in northeastern Syria earlier Sunday, however, there were no casualties or damage.
Iraqi armed groups have claimed to carryout more than 70 such attacks against US forces since October 17 over US support to Israel in its bombardment of Gaza Stirp.
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The attacks were stopped when a short ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hamas.
The US in November launched two strikes in Iraq against armed groups who were involved in attacks against their forces.
The strikes killed at least 10 militants. The government of Iraq condemned those strikes terming them violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
The US has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq with an aim to assist local forces trying to stop a resurgence of Daesh.
