American and British Soldiers Die in Training Accident in Iraq

An American soldier and a British soldier died in a training accident in Iraq, officials from the United States and the United Kingdom confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday at an air base in Irbil, located in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, where the U.S.

maintains a military presence. The U.S.

Army announced the deaths in a post on X, stating that the identity of the deceased American service member would be withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification. The U.K.'s Ministry of Defence also confirmed the death of the British soldier, noting that the family had been informed and requested a "period of grace" before further details are released.

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey expressed deep sadness over the loss in a statement, and a social media video showed Healey announcing the soldier's death in the British Parliament.

The U.S. has been reducing its troop levels in Iraq as part of the ongoing campaign against the Islamic State group, but American forces remain in the Kurdish region to strengthen ties with the Kurds.

In December, the U.S. inaugurated a large new consulate compound in Irbil, underscoring its diplomatic and strategic engagement in the area.

This incident comes nearly a month after two American soldiers died in a fall from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco. They were reported missing on May 2 while participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise.