The Pentagon said Tuesday night that a U.S. soldier reported missing following Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan is believed to be dead, identifying the soldier as 28-year-old Sgt. Angel Rampersad of Ozone Park, N.Y.
The Department of Defense’s determination that Rampersad is believed dead increases the U.S. death toll to four since fighting with Iran resumed nearly two weeks ago and to 18 since the war began in late February.
Rampersad was reported missing and two other soldiers, identified Monday as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, were killed Friday in an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in eastern Jordan.
The Department of Defense said in a statement Tuesday night that Rampersad’s status was updated from missing to “Duty Status-Whereabouts Unknown and is believed to be deceased.”
She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.
“Tonight, our city mourns the presumed loss of Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, an Ozone Park resident who died this past weekend in Jordan serving her country,” New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Joann Ariola said in a joint statement.
“As this conflict continues in the Middle East, we pray that all our service members remain safe and return home to their families.”
The Pentagon also announced Tuesday that Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, N.C., was killed Sunday at Erbil Air Base, Iraq, during a controlled detonation of a downed one-way drone.
The four soldiers were killed following a resumption oof fighting between the United States and Iran that began July 7 over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the latest chapter in their war, which began Feb. 28.
Tuesday marked the 11th consecutive night of the United States and Iran trading attacks, with no diplomatic exit in sight.
Speaking to reporters during a White House press conference earlier Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. military would soon attack Iran’s fortified underground facility in Pickaxe Mountain, where U.S. officials suspect Iran may be housing nuclear infrastructure.
“We’ll be hitting that area pretty soon and very heavily,” he said.
