The Department of Defense has identified three of the four Americans killed in Syria on Wednesday.
Kent was the first female US service member killed by hostilities in Syria. She was an Arabic linguist assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity (CWA) 66 based at Fort Meade, Md.
She enlisted in the Navy in 2003, and her awards include two Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Kent also earned the Iraq Campaign Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
In addition to Fort Meade, her other assignments include Fort Gordon, Ga., Norfolk, Va., and Washington.
According to CNN, the fourth identity has not yet been released by the department.
Farmer had served in six combat deployments. He joined the Army in 2005. After completing One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., he went on to start his Special Forces training. In 2007, he earned the Green Beret and was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he remained for his career. He is survived by his spouse and four children.
Civilian Scott A. Wirtz, 42, of St. Louis, Missouri, was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as an operations support specialist. He enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and served as a SEAL for a decade. He joined the DIA almost two years ago, and deployed three times for the agency.
His awards include the SEAL Trident, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism.
The attack came while US military personnel were conducting a “routine patrol” in an unconfirmed part of Syria. “We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time,” a spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the US-led counter-ISIS campaign in Syria, tweeted Wednesday.
Reports began trickling in that an explosion rocked near a US patrol in the northern Syrian city of Manbij.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 16 people were killed including nine civilians. At least five US-backed Syrian fighters are among the dead.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
Later Wednesday morning, while speaking at the State Department, Vice President Mike Pence said the Islami State's "caliphate has crumbled" and that the terrorist network "has been defeated."
He also defended President Trump's decision to withdraw some 2,000 American troops from Syria. The withdraw will be "orderly and effective," he said, but added the US will stay in the region ensuring the Islamic State does not reemerge.
President Trump paid tribute Thursday to the four Americans who were killed in Syria.
Speaking at the Pentagon, the president expressed “my deepest condolences to the families of the brave American heroes who laid down their lives” in Syria.
“We will never forget their noble and immortal sacrifice,” Mr. Trump said.
