US serviceman dies on mission in Iraq

A U.S. service member advising Iraqi security forces on a mission was killed Saturday in the northern Nineveh province, the U.S.-led international coalition fighting Islamic State said in a statement, Iraqi News.com reports.

“One U.S. service member died today during an Iraqi Security Force mission in Ninewah province, Iraq, while advising and accompanying the (Iraqi security forces) during a planned operation, the statement said. It added that the name of the service member would be withheld until next of kin have been notified.

Some 5,200 troops are stationed in Iraq as part of a security agreement with the Iraqi government to advise, assist and support the country’s troops in the fight against Islamic State, which overran large parts of Iraq in 2014.