The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military officials say a drone aircraft attacked and destroyed an armed truck operated by Islamic militants west of the village of Sinjar in northern Iraq.

The U.S. Central Command said in a brief statement that the attack happened at midday Wednesday, Washington time.

It said the truck that was targeted was located in the vicinity of a checkpoint operated by fighters of the Islamic State.

The attack was the latest in a string of airstrikes designed to ease the pressure on Iraqi civilians stranded on Sinjar Mountain.

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