In a statement, the resistance says it used appropriate weapons in the strike as it defended Iraq’s sovereignty and airspace from the violating aircraft.

The US Central Command has claimed that the aircraft crashed in what it described as “an apparent accident” involving another aircraft. It claims the incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. It adds that one of the aircraft went down in western Iraq and the second landed safely.

In a now deleted social media post a CBS News reporter said the aircraft with six people on board went down and the other was hit but landed in the Israeli entity. According to “Israeli” media, the US aircraft is estimated to be worth around $200 million.

A French soldier has been killed in an attack in Erbil in northern Iraq. Several others were reportedly also injured in a drone strike.

Ashab Al-Kahf which falls under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, announced that it had begun targeting French interests in the Arab country and the region following the arrival of a French aircraft carrier which is involved in American operations.

The group advised the Iraqi security forces to stay away from the square that houses the French forces at the K1 base.