One US Soldier and One British Service Person Die in Training Accident at Erbil Air Base

Peregraf — One American soldier and one British service person died in a military training accident at Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq on Sunday, May 31, according to separate statements released Monday by the U.S. Army Central and Third Army (ARCENT) and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Details surrounding the incident were not immediately released, and both the U.S. Army and the UK MoD said the incident is under investigation. Neither military provided details on the circumstances, and no cause has been officially established.

In its statement, ARCENT said: "On 31 May, a U.S. Army soldier died during a military training accident at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. The training was conducted with our British Army partners who also lost a soldier. The incident is under investigation." The statement added that the identity of the deceased U.S. service member is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.

The UK MoD said: "It is with deep regret that we can confirm that a training accident occurred in northern Iraq on Sunday 31 May 2026 in which a service person from the British Army died." The MoD added that the service person's family had been informed and had requested a period of grace before further details are released. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends at this sad time," the statement said.

Following the incident, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani expressed condolences to both militaries and the families of the deceased. 

"I extend my deepest condolences to the United States' and the United Kingdom's militaries on the passing of two American and British service members who lost their lives during a training mission in Erbil," Barzani said in a statement posted on X.

"My thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time," he added.

Coalition Forces in the Kurdistan Region 

Barzani also commented on the role of coalition forces in the region.

"We highly value the contributions of the US and the UK, and their continued engagement in supporting the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region," he said.

The United States and the United Kingdom are members of the international coalition that has been operating in Iraq, conducting training, advising, intelligence cooperation, and counterterrorism operations. The U.S. has been reducing the number of troops assigned to counter-Islamic State (ISIS) operations in Iraq, but has retained a presence in the Kurdistan Region, where Erbil Air Base continues to serve as a hub for operations.

The deaths come as coalition partners continue to work alongside Iraqi and Peshmerga forces amid ongoing security challenges across Iraq and the wider region.