US aircraft for a second day in a row targeted Iran-backed fighters in Iraq.

US fighter jets on November 22 "conducted discrete, precision strikes against two facilities in Iraq," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

"The strikes were in direct response to the attacks against US and coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups," the post added.

The Iran-backed Hizbullah Brigades said the strikes killed eight of its fighters.

Hours earlier on November 21, an AC-130 gunship "engaged individuals responsible for launching a missile attack on US and coalition personnel at Al-Assad Airbase, Iraq," CENTCOM said on X.

"This strike resulted in several enemy casualties," it added.

It was the first time the United States has announced a strike on Iran-backed forces in Iraq since they began launching attacks against US targets in response to Israel's war on the Hamas terrorist group.

The US military has targeted Iran-backed groups in neighboring Syria, carrying out strikes on three occasions in recent weeks.

Dozens of attacks on US forces

Since the war erupted with the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, US forces deployed in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 66 times, most recently on November 20, according to US military officials.

The US military on November 21 described the AC-130's engagement with the Iranian-backed fighters who fired a missile at US and coalition personnel.

"We can confirm an attack last night [November 20] by Iran-backed militias using a close-range ballistic missile against US and coalition forces at [Ain] al-Asad air base, which resulted in eight injuries and some minor damage to infrastructure," Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

"Immediately following the attack, a US military AC-130 aircraft in the area conducted a self-defense strike against an Iranian-backed militia vehicle and a number of Iranian-backed militia personnel involved in this attack. This self-defense strike resulted in several enemy KIA (killed in action)," Ryder said.

The heavily armed AC-130 gunships have side-firing weapons and a sophisticated system of sensors, navigation and fire control. The sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify ground forces and targets. It can aim during extended loitering, day or night, in all weather.

Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province hosts forces of the US-led international coalition, a multinational force that is fighting "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) remnants.

There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of ISIS.

In September and October, international coalition forces conducted a total of 79 operations resulting in 13 ISIS operatives killed and 78 detained, CENTCOM said.

Among them were prominent ISIS leaders and members, "including fighters, facilitators and members of attack and sleeper cells plotting to release ISIS prisoners held in local prisons with the intent of replenishing their ranks," it said.