"In response to repeated Kata'ib Hizbollah attacks on Iraqi bases that host Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) coalition forces, U.S. forces have conducted precision defensive strikes ... that will degrade KH's ability to conduct future attacks against OIR coalition forces" chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in the statement.

A US civilian contractor was killed on Friday in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and a U.S. official had said it was looking into the possible Kataib Hezbollah involvement.

Copyright Reuters, 2019