Department of Defense identifies three of four Americans killed in Syria Wednesday
The Department of Defense has identified three of the four Americans killed in Syria on Wednesday.
Kent was the first female US service member killed by hostilities in Syria.
Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, was killed while deployed in Manbij, Syria, Jan. 16, 2019. pic.twitter.com/0HGjrJoQOn
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 18, 2019
#BREAKING: Soldier from Boynton Beach among 4 Americans killed in Syria earlier this week https://t.co/8gULEDpEWs pic.twitter.com/yfuGA4rocS
— WPTV (@WPTV) January 18, 2019
According to CNN, the fourth identity has not yet been released by the department.
The Department of Defense has identified three of the four Americans killed in Syria on Wednesday:
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan R. Farmer, 37
Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Shannon M. Kent, 35
DOD civilian Scott A. Wirtzhttps://t.co/NJ87NJITvn
— CNN (@CNN) January 18, 2019
The attack came while US military personnel were conducting a “routine patrol” in an unconfirmed part of Syria. “We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time,” a spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the US-led counter-ISIS campaign in Syria, tweeted Wednesday.
U.S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria today. We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time.
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) January 16, 2019
Reports began trickling in that an explosion rocked near a US patrol in the northern Syrian city of Manbij.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 16 people were killed including nine civilians. At least five US-backed Syrian fighters are among the dead.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
Later Wednesday morning, while speaking at the State Department, Vice President Mike Pence said the Islami State’s “caliphate has crumbled” and that the terrorist network “has been defeated.”
He also defended President Trump’s decision to withdraw some 2,000 American troops from Syria. The withdraw will be “orderly and effective,” he said, but added the US will stay in the region ensuring the Islamic State does not reemerge.
President Trump paid tribute Thursday to the four Americans who were killed in Syria.
Speaking at the Pentagon, the president expressed “my deepest condolences to the families of the brave American heroes who laid down their lives” in Syria.
“We will never forget their noble and immortal sacrifice,” Mr. Trump said.
Source: Department of Defense identifies three of four Americans killed in Syria Wednesday | Connecting Vets