A British soldier who lost his life during a training exercise in Iraq on Sunday has been named as Lance Corporal James Freeman, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
Details of the Incident
The 29-year-old soldier, a member of the Royal Anglian Regiment, died following an incident at an air base in Erbil, located in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq where the United States military maintains a presence. The MoD reported that a training accident occurred on Sunday, 31 May 2026, resulting in the death of a British Army serviceperson.
In a statement, the MoD expressed deep regret, saying: "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 service person's family have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends at this time."
American Soldier Also Killed
The US Army confirmed via Twitter on Monday that an American soldier was also killed during the alleged training accident. The identity of the American service member has not yet been made public.
Freeman died during what the MoD described as "routine training activity" as part of Operation Shader, the United Kingdom's military campaign against the so-called Islamic State. He was characterized as a "dedicated and experienced" soldier with a promising career ahead of him. His previous deployments included South Sudan, Cyprus, Iraq, the Falkland Islands, Jordan, Romania, and Kenya.
Family and Colleagues Mourn
The MoD further noted that L/Cpl Freeman was a "devoted family-man" who prioritized his family "first in every situation, whether it was a passing comment in a hard situation or expressing his excitement to see them when he was away."
Defence Secretary John Healey expressed his condolences, stating he was "deeply saddened" by the news. In a statement to Parliament on Monday, he said: "My thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time."
The investigation into the training accident is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
