A British Soldier and an American Soldier Die in Maneuvers at Erbil Air Base in Iraq

A US soldier and a British soldier died during a training accident at a coalition air base in Erbil in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, officials from both countries confirmed, as investigations continue into the circumstances of the incident.

The deaths occurred on Sunday during a training exercise at the air base in Erbil , which hosts US and coalition forces engaged in support operations against the remnants of the Islamic State group and in training Iraqi and Kurdish security personnel.

The US Army said the identity of the American service member is being withheld until the required next-of-kin notification process is completed. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the British soldier’s family has been informed and has requested a “period of grace” before further details are released publicly.

Officials have not disclosed the cause of the accident or whether it involved equipment failure, operational error, or other factors. No additional injuries have been reported, and there is no indication so far of hostile action.

The Erbil base remains a key hub for US and coalition operations in northern Iraq, reflecting ongoing security cooperation with Kurdish authorities even as US troop levels in the country have been reduced in recent years. The United States also maintains a major consulate compound in Erbil, inaugurated in December, underscoring its continued diplomatic and strategic engagement in the region.

The incident comes amid a series of recent non-combat fatalities involving Western military personnel during overseas deployments, including the deaths of two US soldiers in Morocco last month during a multinational exercise-related accident. Both the US and UK militaries have launched formal investigations, with further updates expected once initial inquiries are completed and families have been fully notified.