A U.S. Navy servicewoman and a former Navy SEAL are among the four Americans killed in a suicide bombing this week in northern Syria that the United States believes was likely carried out by ISIS, U.S. officials said on Jan. 18.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Farmer, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida; Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Shannon Kent, 35, identified as being from upstate New York; and Scott Wirtz, a civilian Department of Defense employee from St. Louis, died during the Wednesday attack in Manbij, Syria, the Department of Defense said in a statement.
Pentagon identifies 3 Americans killed in Syria attack
Includes Navy Intel Chief Shannon Kent, 35 https://t.co/kIIs90AHUe pic.twitter.com/Pscj4JBE6g
— Jack Posobiec ???????? (@JackPosobiec) January 18, 2019
The Pentagon did not identify the fourth person killed, a contractor working for a private company.
The Manbij attack on U.S. forces in Syria appeared to be the deadliest since they deployed on the ground there in 2015. It took place in a town controlled by a militia allied with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.
Kent joined the Navy in 2003 and in her years of service received nearly one dozen honors, including the National Defense Service Medal and two Joint Service Commendation Medals, Navy officials said in a statement.
Wirtz, a Navy SEAL for 10 years, had been employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency since 2017 and completed three deployments for the agency in the Middle East, the agency said.
Scott Wirtz is from #STL and was one of the four Americans kills in a terrorist attack in Syria on Wednesday. Scott was a former Navy SEAL and was working for the DIA in Syria when the explosion happened. Scott, thank you for your service @FOX2now pic.twitter.com/lYQ0rNGL8X
— Katherine Hessel (@KHesselFox2) January 18, 2019
Army officials did not immediately respond to requests for more details on Farmer.
Two U.S. government sources told Reuters on Thursday that the United States views ISIS as likely responsible for the attack. ISIS has claimed responsibility.
BOYNTON BEACH SOLDIER KILLED IN SYRIA
– This is Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Farmer.
– The 37 year old died from an improvised explosive device in Manbij, Syria on 1/16.
– The details so far from DOD: https://t.co/CVo0McevAc
(pic courtesy of @CNN) pic.twitter.com/3uVz2CT3nt— Mike Trim WPTV (@MikeTrimWPTV) January 18, 2019
The attack occurred nearly a month after President Donald Trump withdrew all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, declaring that ISIS had been defeated there.
Vice President Mike Pence said several hours after the blast on Wednesday that the militant group has been defeated.
