The officials also said an unspecified number of Americans were wounded in the attack, which took place near a coalition patrol, according to a defense official speaking on condition of anonymity.
At least three U. S. servicemembers were killed in an Islamic State-claimed blast in the northern Syrian town of Manbij on Wednesday, defense officials said.
The officials also said an unspecified number of Americans were wounded in the attack, which took place near a coalition patrol, according to a defense official speaking on condition of anonymity.
A spokesman for the U. S.-led coalition confirmed that U. S. troops were killed, but has not yet stated the number of casualties, the branch of service or other details.
“U. S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria today,” said Army Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U. S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve, via email. “We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time.”
The troops were among more than a dozen casualties reported by Syrian and Kurdish outlets Wednesday afternoon, but Stars and Stripes could not independently confirm the death toll.
Some 2,000 U. S. troops are deployed to the country to fight ISIS. The attack comes as the U. S. has begun the process of withdrawing its troops from the country, which President Donald Trump ordered last month, surprising U. S. officials and allies and prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign.
Trump had been “fully briefed” on the Manbij attack and officials would continue to monitor the situation, the White House said in a statement, according to the Washington Post.
