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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) hands the microphone to Secretary of Defence Mark Esper to deliver a statement on Iraq and Syria at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property.Credit:AP

The actions underscore the continued unpredictability of US involvement in Iraq and Syria,and raise the possibility of an escalation with the militia. The Pentagon says the group has links to Iran's Quds Force,a special operations unit that US officials say provides weapons and other support to proxy forces that help Iran extend its reach.

"Iran and their KH proxy forces must cease their attacks on US and coalition forces,and respect Iraq's sovereignty,to prevent additional defensive actions by US forces,"Hoffman said.

The targets that US forces struck include three in Iraq and two in Syria,the Pentagon said. They include weapons storage facilities and locations the militia uses to plan attacks against coalition forces,Hoffman said.

The Iraqi military's Joint Operations Command said four fighters,including the deputy commander,were killed in US strikes on Kitaeb Hezbollah's headquarters along the Iraq-Syria border.

Jaafar al-Hussaini,a spokesman for the militia,said 19 fighters were killed and 35 were injured in the strikes."For those who ask about the response:it will be the size of our faith,"he said in a statement. Other sources put the number of militia fighters killed at 25,with at least 55 wounded.

At least four local Kataib Hezbollah commanders were among the dead,Iraqi security and militia sources said.

"We will not stand for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take actions that put American men and women in jeopardy,"US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters after briefing US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach,Florida.

Pompeo,Defence Secretary Mark Esper and General Mark Milley,chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff,appeared briefly in a club ballroom to comment on the airstrikes.

Esper termed the offensive"successful,"but said that Trump was informed that a further military response could be warranted.

"We discussed with him other options that are available,"Esper said."I would note also that we will take additional actions as necessary to ensure that we act in our own self-defence and we deter further bad behavior from militia groups or from Iran."

Pentagon officials have raised concerns for weeks that Iranian-backed groups in Iraq were likely to attack US forces. On Friday,more than 30 rockets were launched on an Iraqi base near the city of Kirkuk,killing the contractor and wounding several US service members.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hassan Kadhim,an officer with the Iraqi army's 8th Division,said he is concerned about the tensions between the United States and the Shiite-led Popular Mobilisation Units,an umbrella organisation of paramilitary groups that US officials say often receive support from Iran.

"If something happened then we'll be in the middle and it will be chaos,"he said.

He said it is clear that recent attacks carried out on US bases in Iraq were not carried out by the Islamic State."It's being done by Iran proxies,"he said. Iran wants"to have their war in our land."

Earlier this month,Esper asked Iraqi officials to respond to an uptick in attacks on US bases in Iraq.

"My suspicion would be that Iran is behind these attacks,much like they're behind a lot of malign behaviour throughout the region,but it's hard to pin down,"Esper told reporters."So again,we need their help in terms of getting the security situation under control and stabilised,but we also still retain our right of self-defence."

The Washington Post