US soldier and British soldier die during training in Iraq

One American soldier and one British soldier died during a training exercise in Iraq, US and UK officials said on Monday without releasing further details.

The deaths occurred Sunday at an air base in Irbil in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, where the US has retained a presence, the US Army said in a post on X. The statement said the soldier?s identity is being withheld until 24 hours after his or her



family has been notified.

The UK?s Ministry of Defence said in a separate post that the family of the British soldier has been notified and requested a ?period of grace? before more details are released.

The US has been reducing the number of troops countering the Islamic State group in Iraq. But American forces have retained a presence in the Kurdish region as the US seeks to strengthen ties with the Kurds.