Service Member Supporting ISIS Fight Dies in Non-Combat Incident

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The front of the Erbil Police Academy, Erbil, Iraq, Jan. 20, 2009
The front of the Erbil Police Academy, Erbil, Iraq, Jan. 20, 2009. (U.S. Army photo/Cynthia Teears Van Cleve)

A service member deployed to Erbil, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve died May 4 in what officials described as a non-combat incident, according to an announcement from the task force.

The service member's national and military affiliation was not disclosed. While the death remains under investigation, officials said, COVID-19 is not suspected as the cause.

Related: 29 Purple Hearts Approved for Troops Injured in Al Asad Attack

So far this year, four U.S. service members have died in hostile circumstances while deployed supporting ongoing operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and three more have died in non-combat incidents.

As of January, about 5,200 U.S. troops remained in Iraq supporting OIR.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

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