The US military has lost its first soldier in the ongoing military campaign against the ISIL terrorist group, the Navy said.
Cpl. Jordan L. Spears, 21, a US Marine, ejected from an Osprey troop transporter in the Persian Gulf Wednesday. He was first “presumed lost at sea,” but was eventually identified by the Corps on Friday afternoon following a long search.
“US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel conducted an extensive search of the area using all available assets, which continued throughout the night and the next day,” the Navy said in a statement.
The Marine and another crew member jumped out of the aircraft after it lost power on takeoff from the USS Makin Island but the pilot regained control of the aircraft and landed aboard the Makin Island.
The rescue team could find the other crew member, who was in stable condition Friday afternoon.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday “there’s no question that this Marine’s death is related to the operations that are going on in some form or fashion.”
The Pentagon launched airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq in August. A US-led coalition also began military campaign against the group in Syria last month.
President Barack Obama has vowed to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the terror organization, which has executed two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
The ISIL terrorists currently control large swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq. They have carried out heinous atrocities in both countries, including mass executions and beheadings of people.
