美军中央司令部证实，一名美军士兵在伊拉克北部遇袭身亡，另有一人受伤 [1]。美国陆军随后确认死者身份为中士迈克尔·埃曼纽尔·斯温顿，现年30岁，来自北卡罗来纳州费耶特维尔市 [2]。
斯温顿在埃尔比勒空军基地执行伊朗无人机拆除任务时在一次可控引爆中阵亡 [2]。他隶属于驻威廉堡的第55防空炮兵团，第108防空炮兵旅，自2017年入伍 [2]。斯温顿曾获铜星勋章、紫心勋章和战斗行动勋章，并晋升为参谋军士 [2]。
此次事件发生在约旦基地遭袭后的翌日，约旦基地周五在防御伊朗弹道导弹和无人机攻击时有两名美军士兵阵亡，这是伊朗直接火力造成的首批美军人员伤亡 [2]。
据报道，美伊冲突已持续第八天，美军死亡人数升至17人 [1]。伊朗卫生部称过去三周有至少50人死亡、500多人受伤 [1]。与此同时，美国重新封锁伊朗港口，伊朗宣布关闭霍尔木兹海峡并对科威特的水电设施等民用基础设施发动袭击 [1]。伊朗最高领袖穆杰塔巴·哈梅内伊发表声明，称美国总统签署的协议"毫无价值且缺乏可信度" [1]。
A U.S. soldier was killed on Sunday during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone in northern Iraq, the U.S. military confirmed. [1][2] Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, died while performing disarmament duties at Irbil Air Base. [2] Swinton served with the 55th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and had enlisted in 2017. [2] He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge during his service, and was promoted to staff sergeant. [2]
The incident occurred one day after two U.S. soldiers were killed on Friday at a base in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks—the first direct casualties from Iranian direct fire. [2] This marked the latest escalation in an eight-day cycle of mutual strikes between the United States and Iran. [1] Another U.S. servicemember was also injured in the Sunday attack in Iraq. [1]
The broader conflict has claimed significant casualties on both sides. [1] U.S. military deaths have reached 17, while Iran's Health Ministry reported at least 50 deaths and over 500 injured over the past three weeks. [1] Beyond ground operations, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacked civilian infrastructure, including water and power facilities in Kuwait, which were struck again on Saturday, causing fires. [1] The United States has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports as tensions continue to mount. [1]