BAGHDAD: An American soldier died in the line of duty alongside Iraqi security personnel in Nineveh province, the US military said.
Issuing a statement, US Central command said, “One US service member died today during an Iraqi Security Force mission in Iraq, while advising and accompanying the ISF during a planned operation.”
Iraq’s government in late 2017 declared victory against IS, which seized vast swathes of the country including the key northern city of Mosul in a lightning 2014 offensive.
But the jihadist group has lately “solidified its insurgent capabilities in Iraq” , according to a report this week by the US Defense Department watchdog.
The report also said IS was “resurging” in neighboring Syria, despite a Kurdish offensive — backed by US-led coalition air support — to seize the last shred of the jihadists’ self-styled caliphate in Deir Ezzor province earlier this year.
(Agencies)
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