US service member dies in noncombat incident in Syria

BEIRUT — The U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group says a U.S. service member has died in a noncombat incident in northern Syria.

The coalition's statement gave no other details pending notification of next of kin but said the death occurred on Monday. It said further information will be released as appropriate.

A news report on Monday afternoon quoted family members as saying the service member was Pvt. Michael Thomason, 28, from southwest Detroit. The family said he had been shot and killed, according to the report from WXYZ in Detroit.

RELATED

Pentagon identifies three Americans killed in Syria

They died Wednesday in Manbij, Syria, from a suicide improvised explosive device attack.

By Kyle Rempfer

The U.S. military currently has around 2,000 troops stationed in northern Syria, where they have been for several years, assisting and advising its local partners in the fight against ISIS.

President Donald Trump said in December he intended to withdraw all American forces from Syria, although the White House said later the U.S. will keep 200 troops in the country for now.

In Other News

Will senior enlisted troops see a targeted pay boost in 2026?

After lawmakers agreed to plans to boost pay for junior enlisted troops, they are now shifting focus to more senior enlisted members.

Congress to boost junior enlisted pay by thousands of dollars in 2025

Troops E-4 and below will see a 14.5% pay raise under a deal reached by congressional negotiators this week.

Nonprofits urge Biden to pardon veterans with bad paper discharges

Buoyed by Joe Biden's pardon of his son, veterans advocates are urging the president to use his pardoning power to help veterans with bad paper discharges.

In a service first, Navy taps Black civil engineer for admiral

Tobias has been the commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington since June 2023.

DOD civilians can shop at these 16 commissaries during expansion test

The Defense Department is testing whether to expand the commissary benefit to stateside military civilian employees.

VA plans to expand caregiver benefits, postpone program discharges

Rules surrounding VA's caregiver support have been in limbo for more than two years after families complained about harsh eligibility guidelines.

Trust in the military on the rise, but still below pre-pandemic levels

More than half of the individuals polled said they have a great deal of trust in the U.S. armed forces.

Donald Trump taps JD Vance adviser as next Army secretary

Driscoll, who served in the Army and deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division, brings a background in venture capital and private equity firms.

Bill would push VA to expand outside medical care options for vets

The Complete the Mission Act serves as a focal point of debate over the size of VA and availability of community care for veteran patients.

VA awards $1.5 million to study using psychedelics for PTSD treatment

The move is the first time Veterans Affairs leaders have funded a study into psychedelic benefits since the 1960s.

Load More