U.S. identifies soldier killed in Syrian blast

The U.S. Defense Department identified the American soldier who died in Syria last week as Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Dunbar, an Austin, Texas, native. Dunbar died Friday after an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol station in the Arab-Kurdish town of Manbij. The attack targeting members of the U.S.-led coalition combating Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the country killed two people and injured five others. “Coalition forces, in an advise, assist, and accompany capacity with our partners, were conducting a mission to kill or capture a known [ISIS] member when they were struck by an improvised explosive device,” the U.S.-led coalition said in a statement. The U.K. Ministry of Defense identified the second casualty as British soldier Sgt. Matt Tonroe, who was embedded with the coalition. Several minor explosions have occurred in Manbij in recent weeks. Authorities imposed an 11 p.m. curfew and banned motorcycles from operating after sunset.