Kirby said two F/A 18 fighter jets dropped 500 pound laser guided bombs on a mobile artillery piece near Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish province. He said the artillery was being “used against Kurdish forces defending Erbil, near US personnel.”
The strike comes one day after President Obama authorized airstrikes in Iraq if necessary.
“We intend to stay vigilant, and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq,” Obama said.
Obama said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground.
“I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq. And so even as we support Iraqis, as they take the flight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq,” Obama said.