FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

News

One US Marine Killed, Others Wounded During Islamic State Rocket Attack in Iraq

It was the second combat death of an American service member in Iraq since the start of the US campaign to fight the Islamic State.
A US Marine sits on top of a Humvee during a sandstorm in Ramadi on April 2, 2004. (Photo by Maurizio Gambarini/EPA)

A US Marine was killed in a rocket attack by the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq, the Pentagon said in a statement on Saturday.

It was the second combat death of an American service member in Iraq since the start of the campaign to fight the militant group.

The Marine, who was providing force protection fire, died in the rocket attack at a base near Makhmur, a town between the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.

Advertisement

Cook did not identify the Marine who had been killed. He said several other Marines had been wounded and were being treated for injuries.

A US defense official said two rockets had been fired. One did not cause any damage.

Related: The Pentagon Says the Islamic State's 'Minister of War' Is Dead — For Real This Time

In October, Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, 39, of Roland, Oklahoma, became the first American to die in combat in Iraq since 2011 when he was killed during an overnight mission to rescue hostages held by IS.

Earlier this year, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that a new US force of special operations troops had arrived in Iraq and was preparing to work with Iraqi forces to go after IS targets.

While that force was expected to number only about 200, its deployment marked the latest expansion of US military pressure on IS.

Follow VICE News on Twitter: @vicenews