Pentagon identifies soldier killed destroying drone in Iraq

The Pentagon has identified the U.S. soldier killed during a controlled explosion of a downed attack drone in northern Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old soldier from Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Swinton was “killed in action during a controlled detonation” at Erbil Air Base, the Defense Department said Tuesday. The Pentagon statement described the device as a downed one-way unmanned aerial system. U.S. Central Command said earlier that the incident involved unexploded ordnance from a “downed Iranian one-way attack drone.”

The incident remains under investigation. The Defense Department said Swinton was killed Saturday, while the U.S. military also said in another account that he was killed Sunday. Central Command said a second service member was wounded in the same incident and treated for a “minor injury.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters Sunday, said the troops “were decommissioning ammunition and an accident happened in that process and they were harmed.” He did not provide further details.

Swinton joined the Army in 2017 as an air defense early warning operator. He was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

“His service will not be forgotten, and his sacrifice is not in vain,” Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “We will support Sgt. Swinton’s family and his unit during this difficult period. His loss will inspire his fellow Soldiers to continue the mission.”

Brig. Gen. John L. Dawber, commanding general of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, also praised Swinton in a statement reported by The Guardian. “Sgt Swinton was an experienced noncommissioned officer who took great pride in his work and the people around him,” Dawber said. “He answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication.”

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command said Swinton was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and will receive the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge.

Swinton’s widow, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, wrote in a Facebook post Sunday that included a photo of her husband holding a young girl: “I didn’t think this would be the last time I ever saw you.” She added, “I have no words. I was informed this morning that my husband, Michael, was killed while serving in Iraq. I’m navigating how to process this so please bear with me.”

The Pentagon on Monday also identified two soldiers killed in Jordan during an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. They were 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who was killed Saturday, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, who was killed Friday. The Defense Department said they died while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, The Guardian reported.

A third soldier based in Jordan has been listed as missing in action since the Iranian attack Friday. Remains were found after the attack but have not yet been identified, CBS News reported.

Nearly 100 American service members have been injured in multiple Iranian attacks on bases across the Middle East this month, U.S. officials told CBS News. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that almost 100 personnel “were deemed to have some degree of injury since July 7, 2026,” and said 96% had returned to duty.

“They are determined to get back in the fight. The vast majority of injuries experienced were minor concussions,” Parnell said.

The deaths come amid renewed hostilities after the collapse of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States. CBS News reported that the U.S. military has carried out strikes on Iranian targets for 10 consecutive nights, saying it is trying to stop Iran from attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated with strikes on U.S. assets in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and other U.S.-allied states in the region, as well as attacks on vessels in the strait.

The Guardian reported that Swinton’s death brought to 17 the number of U.S. service members killed in the war, which it said began in February with U.S. military strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.