U.S. serviceman dies in fight for Mosul

A roadside bomb in northern Iraq claimed the first U.S. life in the fight to liberate Mosul from Islamic State militants. Pentagon officials confirmed the U.S. serviceman died Thursday when the vehicle in which he was traveling hit an improvised explosive device. His name has not been released. U.S. special operations troops are working with Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the push to reclaim Mosul, and Pentagon officials had warned of likely casualties. More U.S. forces are serving now in Iraq than at any time since the 2011 withdrawal, about 6,300. They increasingly are in front-line positions. Only three other service members have died since fighting against Islamic State began in 2014.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.