UPDATE – US service members killed in Manbij explosion

ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. service members were killed in an apparent suicide attack in Manbij, Syria on Wednesday, according to the spokesman for the international anti-Daesh coalition.

Col. Sean Ryan said an as-yet unknown number of soldiers was “killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol, ” which reportedly killed several civilians.

“We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time, ” said Ryan.

Initial reports suggested four Americans may have been killed.

The terrorist group Daesh has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which it said was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest.

Manbij remains under the control of the PYD/YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terrorist organization.

During its 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The PYD/YPG is its Syrian branch.

The attack came after U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement last month of the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.

The pullout decision came during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the civil war-torn country.

On the attack, Trump has been “fully briefed and we will continue to monitor the ongoing situation in Syria, ” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told CBS News.

*Servet Gunerigok contributed to the story

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