U.S. soldier dies following IED blast in northern Syria

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Thu Nov 24, 2016 | 6:03pm EST

A U.S. service member died on Thursday after being wounded in an improvised explosive device blast in northern Syria, U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said in a statement.

CENTCOM said the blast occurred in the vicinity of Ayn Issa, but gave no other details, adding it would release more information "as appropriate."

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter expressed condolences in a statement, calling the death a "painful reminder of the dangers our men and women in uniform face around the world to keep us safe."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-idUSKBN13J276

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Short article. No more at link.

[waddirum]

1. We have troops in Syria???

When did this happen?

[Bad Dog]

2. According to the BBC 2015.

A US serviceman has been killed by an improvised explosive device while fighting against so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria, officials say.

The soldier, who has not been named, died after the device detonated in Ayn Issa, north of the IS stronghold Raqqa.

It is the first such death since US special forces deployed in Syria in October 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38101914

[NWCorona]

3. Probably was an "advisor" We have many "high speed" units active in that country.

[Eugene]

4. US Service Member Killed in Syria Identified as Virginia-Based Man

Source: ABC News

US Service Member Killed in Syria Identified as Virginia-Based Man

By PAUL BLAKE and LUIS MARTINEZ - Nov 25, 2016, 7:14 PM ET

The U.S. Navy has identified Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton as the U.S. service member who died yesterday in Syria after succumbing to wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

“We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton, who made the ultimate sacrifice on a day we set aside time to give thanks for our freedom and to recognize the men and women who defend that right,” Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, said in a statement.

His death marks the first time a U.S. service member has been killed in Syria in the current conflict, a senior defense official confirmed to ABC News yesterday. He died near the city of Ayn Issa in northern Syria on Thanksgiving Day, according to U.S. Central Command.

The sailor was based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Two, the Navy said.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-service-member-killed-syria-identified-virginia-based/story?id=43783370