US Military strikes target militia in deadly Iraq attack

U.S. says it has carried out military strikes in Iraq and Syria targeting a militia blamed for an attack that killed an American contractor.

U.S. forces conducted “precision defensive strikes” against five sites of Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Iraqi militia, Defense Department official Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.

U.S. blames militia for a rocket barr Friday that killed a U.S. defense contractor at a military compound near Kirkuk, in rrn Iraq. Officials said attackers fired as many as 30 rockets in Friday's assault.

Hoffman said strikes carried out by United States will limit group's ability to carry out future attacks on Americans and ir Iraqi government allies.

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"In response to repeated Kata'ib Hizbollah (KH) attacks on Iraqi bases that host Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) coalition forces, U.S. forces have conducted precision defensive strikes against five KH facilities in Iraq and Syria that will degre KH's ability to conduct future attacks against OIR coalition forces," Statement From Assistant to Secretary of Defense Jonathan Hoffman stated.

Kata'ib Hizbollah links with Iran Quds Force

As per statement of  Secretary of Defense, Kata'ib Hizbollah has strong links with Iran's Quds Force and has been receiving aid from Iran for conducting attacks on OIR coalition forces.  OIR coalition which is in Iraq is me to slowly and steily wipe out ISIS along with providing vice and assistance to   Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). " U.S. and its coalition partners fully respect Iraqi sovereignty and support a strong and independent Iraq. U.S., however, will t be deterred from exercising its right of self-defense," re statement. 

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KH has also been constantly at war with Iraqi Security Forces injuring multiple members of ISF. Recent KH h conducted a rocket attack on an Iraqi base near oil-rich city of Kirkuk which h resulted in death of a U.S. citizen and injured four U.S. service members and two members of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

"Secretary Esper and Prime Minister Mahdi have shared with each or ir commitment to see se KH attacks on ISF and OIR forces cease once and for all. Iran and ir KH proxy forces must cease ir attacks on U.S. and coalition forces, and respect Iraq's sovereignty, to prevent ditional defensive actions by U.S. forces," re statement. 

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Defense Department gave details immediately on how strikes were conducted. y hit three of militia's sites in Iraq and two in Syria, including weapon stor facilities and militia's command and control bases, Hoffman said.