A Pentagon spokesman says the two U.S. soldiers killed Sunday in Iraq were casualties of a U.S. artillery "mishap."
The soldiers have been identified as 30-year-old Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks of Brooklyn, New York, and 22-year-old Sgt. Allen L. Stigler Jr. of Arlington, Texas.
Both were canon crewmembers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
The Pentagon spokesman, Army Col. Rob Manning, says an Army artillery unit was firing on an Islamic State mortar position "when a mishap occurred." Manning says there is no indication that IS played a role in the deaths. He says he cannot provide other details because the incident is under investigation
Five others suffered injuries that Manning says are not life-threatening.
Brooks joined the Army in July 2012, and was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. In 2016, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and he deployed to Afghanistan from June to November 2014.
This was his first deployment to Iraq.
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Brooks' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with "C" Device, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Stigler and Brooks were posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge, the Pentagon says.
