Hope Milam/iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BAGHDAD, Iraq) — There was a U.S. airstrike southwest of Baghdad Monday, a new area of operations for U.S. fighter aircraft, ABC News has learned.
But this isn’t an indicator of expanded airstrikes in Iraq, a U.S. official told ABC News.
A request was received from the Iraqis to provide air support for an Iraqi unit that was engaged in a firefight with fighters with the Islamic militant group ISIS, the official said. Six ISIS-owned vehicles were destroyed in the strike.
An aircraft was redirected and conducted a strike to support the Iraqi ground troops, the official said.
The total number of U.S. strikes conducted in Iraq has now reached 162.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
