BAGHDAD, March 1 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi Shiite militia group on Sunday claimed responsibility for launching missile and drone attacks against military bases housing U.S. forces in Erbil province in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
In two separate statements, a pro-Tran fraction calling itself the "Guardians of Blood," affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for Iraqi Shiite militias, said that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and in solidarity with Tehran.
Iran's state media confirmed Sunday that Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli attacks a day earlier.
A Kurdish security source confirmed that the defense system at a military base near Erbil International Airport intercepted several drones on Sunday evening. No casualties or damage have been reported so far. ■
