USA20 July, 20262 min read
U.S. Identifies Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton Killed in Controlled Detonation of Iranian Drone in Iraq
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Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, killed at Erbil Air Base. Killing occurred during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone.
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Swinton identified in Iraq
The U.S. military identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, as the soldier killed in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone at Erbil Air Base.
Scripps News reported that Swinton was killed on July 19 while serving at Erbil Air Base, and it quoted his mother, Christel Andujar, saying, "To so many, Michael wasn’t just a hero because he wore the uniform—he was a hero because of the way he loved, protected, encouraged, and inspired everyone around him."
ABC7 New York said the Army statement described Swinton as a 30-year-old father from North Carolina and said he would receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant.
The Guardian said the U.S. defense department press release described Swinton as "killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed One-Way Unmanned Aerial System" on Saturday at Erbil airbase in northern Iraq, and it noted the incident remains under investigation.
Trump warning and injuries
In response to the U.S. casualties, Scripps News said President Donald Trump issued an ominous warning to Iran, quoting him: "Every time Iran kills an American Soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over!" Scripps News also said Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters that nearly 100 U.S. service members have been injured since July 7, and it said he added that 96% have returned to duty.
CBS News reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Sunday that the troops "were decommissioning ammunition and an accident happened in that process and they were harmed," without giving further details. The Guardian said the latest deaths brings to 17 the number of U.S. service personnel killed in the war, which began in February with U.S. military strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.
War stakes and next steps
The U.S. identification of Swinton came after the Pentagon named two other U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan, with CBS News identifying 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas.
“Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.”
CBS News said a third soldier based in Jordan has been listed as missing in action since the Iranian attack on Friday, and it reported that "unidentified remains" were found after the attack but have yet to be identified.
The Guardian said the war with Iran has injured hundreds of service members, including nearly 100 after an escalation over the previous two weeks in which Tehran launched reprisal raids for consecutive nights of U.S. bombing.
In a warning to Americans, the U.S. State Department said in a new warning that "Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world," as ABC7 New York reported renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran is now in its 10th day.