U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan

A 25-year-old U.S. Army Ranger died Saturday during combat operations against al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Sunday. Army Sgt. Leandro A.S. Jasso sustained injuries from small arms fire during an operation in the remote southwest province of Nimruz, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Loren Bymer. Jasso was evacuated to a hospital in the neighboring Helmand province, where he died. He is the 10th U.S. service member killed this year in Afghanistan.

The Leavenworth, Wash., native enlisted in 2012 and was a soldier in the Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment. He died during his third deployment to Afghanistan. “Sgt. Jasso was a humble professional who placed the mission first, lived the Ranger creed, and will be dearly missed,” Lt. Col. Rob McChrystal, Jasso’s battalion commander, said in a statement.