US service member dies after explosion in Syria

A U.S. service member died Thursday after being wounded by an explosive in northern Syria. 

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement that the improvised explosive device detonated near Ayn Issa in Syria. 

It is the first U.S. soldier to be killed in Syria in the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“The entire counter-ISIL Coalition sends our condolences to this hero’s family, friends and teammates,” Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State. “On this Thanksgiving, please be thankful that there are service members willing to take up the fight to protect our homeland from ISIL’s hateful and brutal ideology.” 

Centcom said it would release more information “as appropriate.” 

“I am deeply saddened by the news on this Thanksgiving Day that one of our brave service members has been killed in Syria while protecting us from the evil of ISIL,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement. “It is a painful reminder of the dangers our men and women in uniform face around the world to keep us safe.”