U.S. Army officials say three soldiers were killed and three others were injured when the armored vehicle they were riding in was involved in an accident during training at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Officials with the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield’s 3rd Infantry Division said in a news release that the accident occurred early morning of Sunday, Oct. 20.
“Today is a heartbreaking day for the 3rd Infantry Division, and the entire Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield community, as we are all devastated after a training accident this morning on the Fort Stewart Training Area,” Maj. Gen. Tony Aguto, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, stated. “We are extremely saddened by the loss of three Dogface Soldiers, and injuries to three more.”
The release had few additional details, and a spokesman said the Army was not saying anything more.
Press release ref. this morning’s incident at #FortStewart. pic.twitter.com/7v5plSwdB3
— Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield (@USAGStewartHAAF) October 20, 2019
The soldiers were with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team and were in a Bradley fighting vehicle. They were not immediately identified.
The Army says the three injured soldiers were evacuated and taken to an Army hospital, where they were being evaluated and treated.
Pentagon Chief Says US Troops Leaving Syria for Western Iraq
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says that under current plans all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the American military will continue to conduct operations against the ISIS terrorist group to prevent its resurgence.
Esper, who arrived in the Afghan capital on Sunday, did not rule out the idea that U.S. forces would conduct counterterrorism missions from Iraq into Syria. But he told reporters traveling with him that those details will be worked out over time.
His comments were the first to specifically lay out where American troops will go as they shift from Syria and what the counter-ISIS fight could look like. Esper, who flew overnight to Afghanistan, said he has spoken to his Iraqi counterpart about the plan to shift about 1,000 troops leaving Syria into western Iraq.
