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Defense department: Ft. Bragg soldier killed in Syria

The Department of Defense on Saturday identified a Fort Bragg soldier who died in Syria.

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Master Sgt. Johnathan J. Dunbar
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Department of Defense on Saturday identified a Fort Bragg soldier who died Friday in Syria.
Master Sgt. Johnathan J. Dunbar, 36, of Austin, Texas, died in Manbij, Syria, when an improvised explosive device went off near his patrol, according to the DOD. The incident is under investigation.

Dunbar was assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

UK defense officials said British soldier Sgt. Matt Tonroe also died as a result of the explosion. Dunbar died Friday, a day after the blast, the Pentagon said.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said Tonroe was embedded with US forces on a counter ISIS operation when the attack occurred.

The explosion also injured five others, the US-led coalition in Syria has said.

The coalition said details about the incident are being withheld pending further investigation.

Dunbar was assigned to the headquarters of US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the Pentagon said.

Tonroe was "deployed numerous times on operations to Afghanistan and the Middle East," the UK ministry said.

"His distinguished service reflected a man that was happiest when professionally tested on operations," a ministry statement said. "He relished responsibility, the opportunity to contribute and when the time came, to lead. He was a natural in this role."

The United States maintains about 2,000 troops in Syria, who mostly work with local allies fighting ISIS.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States would "be coming out of Syria like very soon," just hours after the Pentagon highlighted the need for US troops to remain in the country for the immediate future.

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