The U.S. military announced Friday that two coalition personnel had been killed by an improvised explosive device in Syria. Five more were injured. The casualties are the first known combat-related losses for the coalition this year, Reuters reported.
The U.S. did not specify whether those killed were American soldiers, simply stating they were members of the U.S. led coalition battling the Islamic State. The wounded personnel have been evacuated for further medical treatment.
The incident occurred Thursday night after a roadside bomb detonated, and while the U.S. did not specify where the explosion happened, the announcement came just hours after a Syrian official said a bomb exploded in the town of Manbij, near the Turkish border, Talking Points Memo noted. The U.S. said the incident is pending further investigation. Kimberly Alters
Update 10:02 a.m. ET: A Department of Defense official announced that one of the soldiers killed in the explosion Thursday was an American.