The Pentagon announced in a statement on Thursday that an American service member in Syria died from injuries suffered by an improvised explosive device. “I am deeply saddened by the news on this Thanksgiving Day that one of our brave service members has been killed in Syria while protecting us from the evil of ISIL,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement. The victim’s name has not been released yet. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, said more information “would be released as appropriate.” Gen. Townsend also said, “Our entire coalition sends condolences to this hero’s family, friends and teammates.” Hundreds of U.S. service members are operating in Syria — playing a supporting role to a group of Arab and Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL.
U.S. Service Member Dies In Syria After Roadside Bomb Explodes
