Soldier dies in noncombat incident in Middle East

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Pentagon identifies soldier who died in noncombat incident in Jordan

WASHINGTON — The Army is investigating the noncombat death of a Fort Bliss, Texas-based soldier in Jordan, officials said Wednesday.

Spc. Nick Bravo Regules, 20, of Largo, Fla., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and died of injuries unrelated to combat, the Defense Department said in a brief statement.

The coronavirus is not suspected in the death, a defense official said, declining to provide further information about the soldier’s death, including whether the investigation into the cause of death was criminal in nature. Army Central officials did not immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the death.

The 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment is Patriot missile battalion, charged with protecting U.S. troops and their partners from missile or airborne attacks. The unit deployed early this year to the Middle East primarily in support of Operation Spartan Shield, according to an Army news release. That Kuwait-based mission supports operations in nearby combat zones, including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

The unit has operated in several locations during their deployment, according to updates posted online, including in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the anti-Islamic State mission in Iraq and Syria.
 

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