Soldier Killed in Drone Incident in Iraq Identified
The U.S. Army has released the identity of a soldier who tragically lost his life during a controlled explosion of a downed drone in Iraq.
US Army Sergeant Michael Emanuel Swinton, 30, hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, died while on duty at Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq. This was confirmed in a statement from the Army Department.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident occurred during a “controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from an Iranian unidirectional strike drone.” They noted that another service member sustained minor injuries and is receiving treatment. The Army has stated that an investigation is currently underway regarding the incident.
Swinton was part of the 2nd Battery, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment within the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
In the wake of this incident, President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Iran, proclaiming, “every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay the price for that killing many times over!”
Since tensions began with Iran, 17 U.S. servicemen have lost their lives, including two from a strike in Jordan that resulted in numerous injuries. Currently, over 50,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in the Middle East.
Additionally, CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces conducted a fresh series of attacks on Iran, marking the tenth consecutive night of such actions aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities that threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated on Monday, “US forces have targeted Iran’s military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to limit Iran’s capacity to continue aggressions against commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The command asserted that commercial traffic has not been hindered and that CENTCOM has reportedly assisted around 900 commercial vessels, allowing for the transport of approximately 450 million barrels of oil through this crucial maritime passage.
“The U.S. military remains steadfast and ready to hold Iran accountable for its unjustified aggression toward civilian sailors seeking to navigate freely,” the command emphasized.
