WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Department of Defense on Saturday confirmed that a member of the US Marine Corps died in a rocket strike by Daesh militants at a coalition base in northern Iraq.
"Earlier today a US Marine providing force protection fire support at a recently established coalition fire base near Makhmur in northern Iraq was killed after coming under ISIL rocket fire," the statement reads.
A US defense official told US television channels earlier this day that the service member was on security duty at the time of Daesh attack. Several other marines were wounded and are being treated for varying injuries.
The Pentagon said that the marine’s next of kin were yet to be notified about this tragic incident.
The US military was in the area on an advice-and-assist mission. This is the second US combat death since the start of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve in October 2014.
