First U.S. combat death occurs in Iraq war against Islamic State

WASHINGTON — The first American killed in combat in Iraq since the war against Islamic State began there in 2014 died during a rescue operation to free captives who faced "imminent mass execution," Pentagon officials said. U.S. and Iraqi special operations forces raided the compound in northern Iraq where the captives were congregated, freeing 69 Iraqi prisoners Thursday. The raiders killed and captured a number of militants and recovered what the Pentagon called a trove of valuable intelligenc

WASHINGTON — The first American killed in combat in Iraq since the war against Islamic State began there in 2014 died during a rescue operation to free captives who faced "imminent mass execution," Pentagon officials said. U.S. and Iraqi special operations forces raided the compound in northern Iraq where the captives were congregated, freeing 69 Iraqi prisoners Thursday. The raiders killed and captured a number of militants and recovered what the Pentagon called a trove of valuable intelligenc…