U.S. military shoots down drones headed toward troops in Iraq

The U.S. military intercepted an aerial drone strike targeting its troops stationed in Iraq early Wednesday, a U.S. official said, as U.S. officials are on heightened alert for potential attacks on American forces in the Middle East amid an escalating conflict.

U.S. forces shot down two drones aiming to strike the Al Asad air base in Iraq, where hundreds of American troops are stationed, said the U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to speak ahead of an announcement.

No Americans were injured in the incident, the first such attack on U.S. positions in Iraq in least nine months, said the U.S. official. The official declined to say who was responsible for the attack.