5 militia fighters killed in US strikes near Syria-Iraq border AP/Beirut (AFP file) US officials have grown increasingly alarmed over drone strikes targeting military bases in Iraq. The US military, under the direction of President Joe Biden, has conducted airstrikes against what it said were “facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups” near the border between Iraq and Syria. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the militias were using the facilities to launch unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against US troops in Iraq. Kirby said the US military targeted three operational and weapons storage facilities Sunday — two in Syria and one in Iraq.