By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Drones struck oilfields in Iraqi Kurdistan on Thursday, with officials pointing to Iran-backed militias as the likely source of attacks this week that have slashed the region's oil output by more than half.

Crude oil futures bounced back on surprisingly strong US economic data, falling US stockpiles, and drone attacks on oil infrastructure in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

A drone attack targeted an oilfield in Iraqi Kurdistan this Thursday, in what represents a big hit that lowers oil output between 140,000 and 150,000 barrels per day.