US kills 5 militants in Iraq after attempted drone strike

WASHINGTON

The US military announced Monday that it killed five militants who were preparing to launch an attack drone against American forces in northern Iraq.

"On December 3 near Kirkuk, Iraq, forces assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) engaged five militants preparing to launch a one-way attack drone,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

"CJTF-OIR forces responded in self-defense with an armed U.S. unmanned aerial system, killing all five militants and destroying the drone.”

The US will continue to defend US and coalition personnel from attacks, it added.

The US has been subjected to dozens of rocket and drone strikes in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17.