ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The two US service members who died on Sunday were participating in a mission “in support of Iraqi Security Forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Monday evening.
Amid conflicting reports of what happened, CENTCOM clarified some points on Twitter. “Regarding the recent incident in Iraq, an Army artillery section was conducting a counter-fire mission against an ISIS mortar site.”
Describing the incident as a “mishap,” CENTCOM stated that seven soldiers were injured and evacuated by air. Two subsequently died and the other five “did not suffer life threatening injuries.”
Earlier in the day, Iraq’s Joint Command said in a statement that the two US service members who died were “inside the borders of the Kurdistan Region."
Jabar Yawar, a Peshmerga official, told Rudaw English Monday afternoon that they do not have “detailed information” regarding the incident because it was not “registered” with their ministry.
The Iraqi Command said that two American servicemen were killed, and three injured when a rocket exploded inside an artillery weapon that was inspected by the US soldiers.
“It was a non-combat incident, and not an engagement with the enemy, nor was it a targeted [attack] by ISIS,” the Iraqi statement said.
US Central Command announced the deaths of two US service members on Sunday, adding that another five were injured.
The US is investigating the incident and will release further information “as appropriate.”
Later on Monday, the US military identified the dead as Sgt. Roshain Euvince Brooks, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, and Spc. Allen Levi Stigler Jr., 22, of Arlington, Texas. Both were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.]
“Our best wishes are with the families of the two soldiers who died and their fellow servicemembers,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said.
Shortly after the US announced the deaths on Sunday, ISIS issued a claim of responsibility, saying in a statement published online that they had fired Grad rockets at US forces in the village of Bewer, east of Tal Afar in Nineveh province.
As of Friday, 43 Americans had died in Operation Inherent resolve (11 killed in action) with 44 more wounded in action, according to the US defense department.
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