Latest news with #OperationInherentResolve
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Pentagon identifies soldier who died in Iraq as Michigan resident
June 19 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has identified the soldier who died earlier this week in a non-combat-related incident while serving in Iraq as a Michigan resident. In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Defense identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Mich. Gonzalez died Tuesday in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, where he was serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military's mission to defeat the Islamic State terrorist group in areas of Iraq and Syria. Specifics of the non-combat-related incident were not released, but the Pentagon said it was under investigation. Gonzalez was assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. "It is with heavy hearts, we share the news of the loss of SSG Saul F. Gonzalez. While his passing was not combat-related, it is felt by all who knew him," the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade said in a statement on Facebook. "We honor his service and reflect upon the positive impact he had as an outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer, Technical Inspector and friend. Please keep his family and fellow Troopers in your thoughts and prayers." About 2,500 U.S. soldiers are in Iraq as part of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Michigan soldier dies from "non-combat-related incident" while serving in Iraq
A Michigan man serving in Iraq has died as a result of a "non-combat related incident," the U.S. Department of Defense reported Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Michigan, died Tuesday while serving in Erbil, Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Gonzalez was assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. "It is with heavy hearts, we share the news of the loss of SSG Saul F. Gonzalez," his unit posted on social media Wednesday. "While his passing was not combat-related, it is felt by all who knew him. We honor his service and reflect upon the positive impact he had as an outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer, Technical Inspector, and friend. Please keep his family and fellow Troopers in your thoughts and prayers." The death is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense press release.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Army soldiers from Minnesota, Michigan perish in separate Middle East incidents
Two U.S. Army soldiers deployed in the Middle East in support of the campaign against ISIS died this week in separate incidents that were not combat-related. The Department of Defense (DoD) on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of two soldiers supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Sgt. 1st Class Emmett Wilfred Goodridge Jr., 40, of Roseville, Minnesota, died Sunday in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, as a result of an incident that was not combat-related, according to the DoD. Goodridge was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York. The incident is under investigation, officials said. Three days later, Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Michigan, died in Erbil, Iraq, in a separate incident that was not combat-related, according to the DoD. Gonzalez was assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The second incident also remains under investigation, officials said. No further details about the incidents were immediately released. The deaths come days after President Donald Trump honored the U.S. Army for its 250th anniversary on Saturday. The DoD did not immediately respond to further inquiries from Fox News Digital. The Army did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for service photos.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
2 soldiers killed in separate non-combat incidents in Iraq, Kuwait
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced the deaths of two soldiers killed in separate, 'non-combat' incidents earlier this week in Iraq and Kuwait. Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Mich., died Tuesday in Erbil, Iraq, and Sgt. 1st Class Emmett Wilfred Goodridge Jr., 40, of Roseville, Minn., died Sunday in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, according to a Defense Department statement. No further details were given as to the cause of the deaths, which are both under investigation. Gonzalez had been assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky., while Goodridge was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Both men had been supporting Operation Inherent Resolve at the time of their deaths. The operation is tasked with keeping the Islamic State at bay in the Middle East after the caliphate was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019. Deaths of U.S. troops deployed to the Middle East are increasingly rare following the end of the Afghanistan war in 2021 and a 2024 agreement between the United States and Iraq to withdraw U.S.-led coalition forces from the country by the end of 2026. But the area remains volatile, thanks to the Iranian-backed militia groups that can attack American forces in the region, with three Army soldiers killed in a drone attack on a small U.S. outpost in Jordan in January 2024. And since Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, at least five U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria have come under fire from Tehran-supported militants, according to Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Partnered with OTX for 2025 Season Opener in San Diego
United States Air Force Special Warfare Operator Leo Zapata Met with Fighters for an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Experience BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States. Air Force recently teamed up with Overtime Boxing (OTX) as the official sponsor of their first fight of 2025 at Sycuan Casino Resort in San Diego. Among those in attendance was United States Air Force Special Warfare Operator Staff Sgt. Leo Zapata who received an exclusive look at the preparation for OTX alongside the fighters in recognition and honor of his service. On Friday, March 21, Staff Sgt. t Zapata joined a mitt work session and received pointers from OTX fighters Jonny Mansour, Maliek Montgomery and Kurt Scoby. Staff Sgt. Zapata then attended a press conference with the fighters and had the opportunity to ask about insights into their training and routines. Staff Sgt. Zapata also met with OTX broadcast talent Akin "Ak" Reyes, Barak Bess, and Corey Erdman for a behind-the-scenes look at the sport. On Saturday, March 22, before the night's action began, fans had the chance to meet Staff Sgt. Zapata and take on U.S. Air Force special warfare drills to test their own grit and strength. Later that evening, Staff Sgt. Zapata and members of the recruitment team watched as Mansour stole the show in a featured bout and electrified his hometown crowd by knocking out his opponent in under two minutes. Following the fight, Staff Sgt. Zapata and Mansour planned to keep in touch and train together at Mansour's local gym. A California native, Staff Sgt. Zapata enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2014 after a year-long wait to ship out for basic training. He signed up as a Tactical Air Control Party Specialists (TACP) from the start and successfully completed the rigorous pipeline on his first attempt, graduating in December 2014 with Eagle 97 flight. Over his 11-year United States Air Force career, he served at Fort Bliss, TX, completing two combat deployments to Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve. Zapata later moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA and deployed to South Korea. Throughout his service, he completed both Airborne and Air Assault training. Off duty, Staff Sgt. Zapata is a proud husband and father to a 3-year-old daughter, balancing family life with his passions for soccer, shooting, travel, and hopefully returning to skydiving. Looking ahead, OTX will travel to Philadelphia for OTX 14 on June 13th. As part of its partnership with DAZN, all fights will be available to stream for free on the DAZN app, as well as on DAZN and Overtime social channels. Fans can also catch OTX fights on Victory+. About OTX OTX (Overtime Boxing) is about that ACTION delivering future world champions a platform unlike any other available to them. The OTX platform is rooted in a year-round content experience on social, shining a spotlight on everything from how boxers train to their lifestyles outside of the ring. No one is telling these stories for the next generation, and no one is better suited to step into the ring to do so than Overtime. In its third year, OTX continues to dominate in and outside the ring, generating over 5BN views and 4.6MM followers on social channels and racking up over 1MM views on live streams. About United States Air Force Special Warfare The Airmen who make up Air Force Special Warfare are the most specialized warriors on the planet. They are the ones other special forces look to when the mission calls for their unique skills and fearless commitment. A job for the mentally tough and physically strong, these Airmen are the elite experts of Global Access, Precision Strike, and Personnel Recovery, and will go anywhere in the world to conquer every challenge. Learn more by visiting and finding a Special Warfare recruiter near you. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Overtime Sports, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
