ERBIL, Iraq

A bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) targeting the US-led coalition base near Erbil International Airport in Iraq was shot down Thursday, according to the Directorate General of Counter Terrorism of the Kurdistan regional government.

The drone was intercepted and downed at 6.50 p.m. local time (1550GMT), with the attack attributed to "illicit militias," according to a statement on Facebook.

On Wednesday, the Counterterrorism Unit of the Kurdistan regional government announced that an armed drone targeting the base was successfully downed at 8.58 p.m. local time (1758GMT).

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadowy Iraqi militia groups which includes pro-Iran Shiite militias, announces frequent attacks on bases of US-led coalition forces in response to Washington’s support for Israel in its war on Gaza.

As part of this, Ayn al-Assad Military Base in Anbar, Harir Air Base in Erbil, Camp Victory Military Base in Baghdad and the US base near Erbil International Airport have been repeatedly targeted with drones.