Dec 3 (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. air strike killed five members of an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group north of the city of Kirkuk as they were preparing to launch projectiles at U.S. forces in the country, three Iraqi security sources said.
U.S. military officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iraqi armed groups have claimed more than 70 such attacks against U.S. forces since Oct. 17 over Washington's backing of Israel in its bombardment of Gaza.
The U.S. in November launched two series of strikes against what it said were Iran-aligned armed groups who had engaged in attacks against their forces.
Those strikes killed at least 10 militants who were identified both as members of shadowy militia Kataeb Hezbollah and of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, an official security institution composed mainly of Shi'ite Muslim armed groups, many with close links to Iran.
Persons:
Timour, Sharon Singleton
Organizations:
U.S, Hezbollah, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, United, Thomson
Locations:
Iran, Kirkuk, U.S, Syria, Gaza, Israel, United States, Iraq, State